David Edwards, Wendy Phillips, and Pat Shuman are serving as the general co-chairs of the Tacoma Community College Foundation’s Invest In Your Future capital and endowment campaign.

The campaign is focused around three goals: enhancing access to higher education, strengthening academic programs and funding capital improvements.

As general campaign co-chairs, Edwards, Phillips and Shuman will provide general campaign oversight and enlist the chairs for each division while stimulating the involvement of key volunteers. Griselda “Babe” Lehrer and Annette Weyerhaeuser are serving as honorary campaign co-chairs. They will provide guidance and inspiration to campaign volunteers and help raise awareness of the campaign among the general public.

“We care about the community, and that’s why we support TCC,” said Edwards and Shuman, who are married. “We’re big believers in life-long learning, and community colleges provide the greatest access to learners of all ages throughout various life stages. Learning creates change, and TCC creates opportunities for adults of all ages to have positive, life-changing experiences.”

Phillips said, “I believe education is the key to freedom. TCC provides access to affordable higher education for those in our community who might otherwise be underserved. I am honored to be co-chairing a campaign that will help TCC continue to grow and provide not just a good education, but an excellent education to those most in need.”

Invest In Your Future campaign initiatives include raising funds for student scholarships and grants; an Early Childhood Education and Childcare Center; the study abroad program; employee leadership development; equipment for health care training programs; a Center for Ethical Development; Learning Resource Center improvements; an Information Commons (open computer lab); and various campus beautification projects, including a Japanese Garden.

Edwards, of Tacoma, is a retired Weyerhaeuser Co. executive and a member of TCC’s Board of Trustees. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University and is a U.S. Navy veteran. His volunteer work includes the Washington State Historical Society, Catholic Health Initiatives, Children’s Orthopedic Hospital, Franke Tobey Jones, Tacoma Art Museum and Children’s Museum of Tacoma.

Phillips, of Gig Harbor, is a former marketing professional, an anthropology student and a community volunteer. She has been active on the boards of local not-for-profit organizations since her arrival in Tacoma from England nearly 20 years ago. She has worked as media director for the Washington State History Museum and Tacoma Opera, owned and operated W.P. Product Management, and written “Confessions of a Marketeer.” Her community service work includes the TCC Foundation, Tacoma Opera, the Tacoma Youth Chorus, Charles Wright Academy, St. Joseph’s Hospital, the Junior League, Tacoma Art Museum and Tacoma Actors Guild.

Shuman, of Tacoma, describes herself as a “painter, traveler, community volunteer and grandmother.” She has volunteered with the Tacoma School of the Arts Partners, Tacoma Art Museum, Children’s Museum of Tacoma, University of Washington-Tacoma and Tacoma Actors Guild. Shuman is a former employee of Weyerhaeuser Co. and Tacoma Community College. Funds raised through the Invest In Your Future campaign will be administered by the TCC Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that accepts and administers private gifts on behalf of the college.