Skip to content

Webber International University Awarded Grant by GiveWell Community Foundation

EconomicPress ReleaseCommunityEducation

Babson Park, FL. (April 10, 2026)- Webber International University has been awarded a $10,000 Impact Polk grant from the Leland Bryan Fund within GiveWell Community Foundation to support its Skilled Workforce Training Scholarship Program.
 
This funding expands access to short-term certificate programs and accredited bachelor’s degrees in healthcare and information technology, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and The Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant (BSOTA), with a Minor in Health Services Administration (HSA). These programs prepare graduates for high-demand, high-wage careers that are critical to meeting Polk County’s current and future workforce needs.
 
Since 2023, the Community Foundation’s Impact Polk Grant has helped more than 15 students reduce financial barriers, remain enrolled, and make measurable progress toward completion in high-demand healthcare and workforce-aligned academic programs.
 
The certificate programs offer flexibility for both working adults and recent high school graduates. Asynchronous learning options allow participants to gain new skills while balancing personal and professional responsibilities.
 
Webber seeks to strengthen partnerships with local employers to ensure training aligns with workforce needs. These collaborations help create a steady pipeline of qualified professionals ready to meet the demands of the local job market.
 
Webber’s President Dr. Nelson Marquez stated, “Webber International University is honored to partner with GiveWell Community Foundation in advancing a shared mission of improving quality of life through strategic investment in education.” He went on to state “This grant reflects a collective commitment to strengthening our community by expanding access to workforce focused academic pathways that create opportunity, support economic mobility, and prepare students for meaningful, in demand careers across Polk County and beyond.”
 
The university remains committed to addressing Polk County’s workforce challenges by increasing educational opportunities and supporting career advancement in critical sectors.
 
To learn more about the program offerings please visit: www.webber.edu

About Webber International University

 
Established in 1927 by Roger Babson as the first college chartered under Florida's then new charitable and educational laws, Webber International University is a private, not-for-profit, independent institution offering degrees at the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s levels. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the institution offers numerous programs through traditional day and entirely online formats.
 
About GiveWell Community Foundation
 
GiveWell Community Foundation (GWCF) partners with individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits to build stronger communities throughout Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties and beyond through charitable funds and competitive grant cycles. Since its founding in 1997, GWCF has awarded more than $525 million in grants to nonprofit organizations. Today, the Community Foundation is home to more than 400 charitable funds and the Impact Polk and Empower grant cycles. To learn more about GWCF, visit givecf.org or call 863-683-3131.
 
 

Webber International University Awarded Grant by GiveWell Community Foundation

Scroll To Top