The Florida State University Foundation has received a $100,000 grant from Truist Financial Corporation through its Truist Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund at The Winston-Salem Foundation, to expand programming and improve retention and graduation rates for first-generation students and those disadvantaged by economic circumstances.

The grant will be used to aid first-generation students, students with economic hardship and students with dependents to enhance their recruitment, retention, graduation and career success.

“We are so grateful for the support from Truist,” said Joe O’Shea, assistant provost and dean of Undergraduate Studies. “Like FSU, they are committed to empowering young people to thrive, and I’m thankful they saw investing in Florida State University as a way to accomplish our shared mission. These funds will be critical as we expand the support for FSU’s first-generation students and continue to prove that demographics are not destiny.”

The funds will support FSU’s new Living Learning Community for First-Generation students as well as expand Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE) programming that builds community and equips students with tools to succeed. Funding will also help increase the number of Learning Assistants in gateway classes and support the university’s Tech Fellows program, which offers paid internships to diverse students in the tech field.