Pamela M. Comstock Honored with Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy

Primary Media Contact:  Holly Walker, Director of Communications and Public Relations, 804-594-1530

Secondary Media Contact:  Heather Busch, Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy, 804-594-1532

Richmond – Pamelia M. Comstock received the 19th Annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy in honor of her work with Brightpoint Community College. Nominated for the award by the Brightpoint Community College Foundation, Comstock was recognized during a luncheon ceremony held in Richmond on April 15, 2025. 

Comstock exemplifies a commitment to the growth and development of Brightpoint’s students and faculty through personal philanthropic and strategic support and by inspiring the same in others. She became a member of the Brightpoint Community College Foundation Board in 2008. In the years that followed, she nurtured a strong culture of philanthropy, serving as a member of the “Next Up” scholarship campaign committee, which succeeded despite the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, she spent a term as the Board’s chair. While in that role, Comstock placed a high priority on creating opportunities for directors to interact with students. She allocated time at Board meetings for “Student Spotlights,” during which a student shares their story, which often include very personal and moving accounts of motivation and persistence made possible by the culture of care practiced by Brightpoint’s faculty and staff. Comstock also worked to strengthen the connection between the Foundation and College Boards, and by doing so, fostered greater awareness of and support for the college’s priorities. She also ensured the Foundation continues to provide financial support for the annual Student Art Award, the Student Emergency Fund, and scholarships. In addition, she serves as an ambassador of Brightpoint, attending events and connecting businesses, as well as industry-focused and community organizations to the college.
 
“I have had the privilege of knowing Pam for more than 12 years, and I am grateful for her service to and leadership of the Brightpoint Community College Foundation,” said Dr. Bill Fiege, president of Brightpoint Community College. “During her time with the Foundation, Pam has shown unwavering dedication to Brightpoint’s students and our college’s work. As a business leader, Pam’s keen insights into the region’s growth and development have provided us with a valuable perspective on the college’s role in the success of the region’s residents and employers. We are grateful for all Pam has done and continues to do to guide the Foundation and support our college’s mission of providing quality educational opportunities that inspire student success and community vitality.”

At the annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy luncheon, hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE), more than two dozen individuals, families, and organizations were honored with the Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. VCCS Chancellor Dr. David Doré served as the emcee, and Mr. Mark Hourigan, founder and CEO of Hourigan, delivered the keynote address.

“Every time our donors support a scholarship, fund a new program, or an emergency grant, they are not just giving back, they are lifting up,” said Hourigan. “They are invaluable partners whose generosity can and does make the difference between a student dropping out or staying the course and realizing their true potential.”

Doré echoed those sentiments, adding that a culture of care can have a profound impact on student performance. “When our students realize that someone cares enough to help remove the formidable obstacles standing in their way, it’s life-changing,” he said. “The things they thought impossible suddenly become doable, and their confidence soars as a result.”

This year’s class of distinguished philanthropy leaders has collectively contributed $24 million dollars to Virginia’s Community Colleges.

The Brightpoint Community College Foundation secures resources that provide scholarships for students; fund academic programs, student support services, capital projects, and renovations to modernize classrooms and labs; and stimulate innovation within the college faculty and staff. This work ensures the college continues its pledge of providing academic excellence to students while expanding the services it offers to meet the community’s workforce requirements. Since most of the college’s graduates live and work in the area, gifts to the Foundation are an investment in both students and the community.    

Brightpoint Community College, one of the largest institutions in the Virginia Community College System, envisions a success story for every student. Brightpoint offers students a high-quality, high-value education, with more than 80 majors that provide pathways to careers in in-demand fields; transfer opportunities to four-year colleges and universities; and industry credentials and licensures. The college, with campuses in Chester and Midlothian, online classes, and off-campus classrooms, served 12,097 students during the 2023-24 academic year. It also assisted 4,200 learners through Community College Workforce Alliance, the shared workforce division of Brightpoint and Reynolds community colleges.