Richmond Promise Executive Director Christopher Whitmore (left) and former RP Executive Director Jessie Stewart pose for a photo at College Promise’s 10th Anniversary & Careers Institute in San Antonio, Texas.

SAN ANTONIO — When it comes to providing college access and economic opportunities for students, Richmond Promise continues to rank among the most impactful Promise programs in the country as on Monday the organization was honored with the National Impact Award by College Promise.

Richmond Promise Executive Director Christopher Whitmore received the award on behalf of the organization at College Promise’s 10th Anniversary & Careers Institute at the Alamo Colleges District’s Palo Alto College in San Antonio, TX. Richmond Promise’s first executive director, Jessie Stewart, was also on hand to share in the honor.

“Receiving a College Promise Impact Award is an incredible honor for Richmond Promise, the City of Richmond, and the thousands of young people in our community who we’ve served along their high education and career development journeys,” Whitmore said. “We’re proud to be recognized as a national leader in the college promise community, and we will continue to trailblaze by further deepening our higher education impact in our hometown for years to come.”

Richmond Promise is one of 15 organizations from across the country to receive the award in 2025, but is one of just two from California (Los Angeles College Promise) and the lone Northern California program to earn the honor. 

In its announcement, College Promise said “These awardees represent the best of the Promise movement, expanding access to higher education, supporting completion, and creating clear, sustainable pathways from college to career.” College Promise was founded in 2015 and has grown to a network of more than 450 Promise Programs representing all 50 states.

“These 15 programs embody the promise of what’s possible when communities invest in their students,” said Rosye Cloud, interim CEO, College Promise. “By helping students pursue college and careers, they are not only changing lives, they are strengthening their communities, building the workforce of the future, and setting an example for programs nationwide.”

Since its launch in 2016, Richmond Promise has supported more than 4,200 Richmond young people as they make their way to and through higher education. Richmond Promise currently serves more than 1,300 Scholars per year who are pursuing associate and bachelor degrees, and career technical education certifications, at over 200 colleges and universities across the United States. 91 percent of Richmond Promise scholars identify as people of color and/or indigenous, 64 percent are first-generation college students, and entering the 2025-26 school year, Richmond Promise has awarded over $12 million in scholarships to Richmond students. To learn more, visit richmondpromise.org.