Inspiredu and Truist: Partnering for Digital Literacy
Inspiredu is pleased to announce that a generous community development grant awarded last year from Truist Charitable Fund (TCF) has been renewed for a second year. This grant has been a significant step toward helping us bridge the digital divide. TCF is a donor-advised fund administered by the Winston-Salem Foundation and part of the Truist Community Catalyst Initiative, a multiyear strategic partnership aimed at addressing some of Georgia’s most pressing community needs.
For Inspiredu, the renewal of the grant from Truist Charitable Fund means the ability to help more people gain access to technology and digital skills training. After all, digital literacy is now vital for comprehensive education opportunities and workforce preparedness. Inspiredu offers basic digital skills training and devices to families through the Family Learning Workshop program and to adults through the Adult Digital Literacy program.
“At Inspiredu, we are committed to closing the digital divide and ensuring underserved communities across Georgia have access to essential technology and digital training,” shares Inspiredu CEO Richard Hicks. “Truist's commitment and support strengthens our ability to reach more learners and families.”
A perfect partnership
When we first received the grant last year, we were one of 17 awarded across 13 states spanning Truist’s primary markets. The broader initiative aimed to place over 1,000 individuals into livable wage jobs, develop or preserve 700 affordable housing units, deploy $65 million in loan capital through 500 small business and home loans, and provide 3,100 low-to-moderate-income individuals with access to essential community services, including access to technology.
“At Truist, our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities,” shares Truist Georgia Regional President Katie Saez. “We know that access to technology and education is crucial to helping people find career pathways, a vital steppingstone to this purpose.”
This makes our mission a perfect fit for their goals and gives us additional funding to take our own goals further.
Funding the future for underserved communities
Since 2020, we’ve focused our efforts on digital access and literacy to Georgia’s most vulnerable population: underserved communities. This grant will allow us to do that work by expanding our Family Learning Workshop and Adult Digital Literacy Programs.
“These particular programs are vital because they span generations,” explains Hicks. “They help us to empower learners of all ages, which includes everyone in a household.”
From teaching learners how to use a computer and access the internet to training them in essential software like Microsoft Office, participants gain the necessary resources and support to be competitive in key areas such as education and the workforce. This digital skills training helps moves communities forward. Together, Inspiredu and Truist are making a difference in the lives of Georgians.
To learn more about Inspiredu’s programs and impact, visit https://www.iuatl.org.
To learn more about Truist’s purpose, visitTruist.com/who-we-are/about-truist.