Excellerate Foundation Receives Prestigious 2023 Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships from HUD, Council on Foundations

On June 14th, Jeff Webster, President/CEO of Excellerate Foundation, and Carol Silva Moralez, President/CEO of Upskill NWA, were in Denver at the Leading Locally conference to receive the prestigious 2023 HUD Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships presented by HUD and the Council on Foundations.

LAST UPDATED • June 16th, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rogers, AR, June 14, 2023 - Excellerate Foundation announced today that it has been presented the esteemed 2023 Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in collaboration with the Council on Foundations. This national prize celebrates the exceptional efforts and outstanding achievements of organizations that have fostered impactful partnerships between philanthropy and government, as well as the vital role that philanthropy plays in addressing critical social issues through innovative and collaborative approaches.

Excellerate was recognized for its creation of Upskill NWA, a sectoral–based workforce development model that provides access to education to low-income wage earners and moves them into high-demand, high-wage jobs in healthcare. By engaging and activating employment partners, education partners, social service support partners, and multiple city and county governments, Upskill NWA makes it possible for participants to increase the economic stability of their households and improve their long-term career prospects, while the region’s healthcare systems get the trained, skilled workforce that they desperately need.

Jeff Webster, President/CEO at Excellerate Foundation received the award on behalf of the Foundation this afternoon in Denver, CO from Council on Foundations CEO, Kathleen Enright, and senior HUD officials during the plenary luncheon of Leading Locally, the Council’s community philanthropy conference.

"We are deeply honored to be recognized with this prestigious award and thank both HUD and the Council on Foundations for their support," said Webster. "This achievement reflects the passion, commitment, and unwavering dedication of our team and the exceptional partnerships we have cultivated. We remain steadfast in our mission to effect systemic change through public-philanthropic collaborations and to pursue inventive solutions to address the most pressing challenges faced by our community."

You can read HUD's press release HERE.

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