FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation has awarded Broward College a $1 million grant to support the ongoing development and success of the College’s adult education programs over the next four years.

The programs prepare students to earn a General Education Development (GED) credential, which is a high school equivalency diploma; help the College to provide English as Second Language (ESL) instruction; and expand access to workforce and degree programs leading to better paying careers in high-growth industries in South Florida.

“We are thankful for the support of the DeLuca Foundation, which will empower adult learners to enhance their skills and position them for success in the workforce,” said Torey Alston, Broward College’s President and CEO. “Whether you are an adult learner or a first-time college student, we want Broward College to be the #1 destination for academic excellence.”

The College’s GED and ESL programs have been operating for four years and seen major growth, with more than 600 students enrolled during the 2025-26 academic year. The new grant will support four staff positions—a program administrator, two student success coaches, and an administrative assistant—and allow the College to focus on recruiting students who are committed to quickly earning a GED or completing ESL courses and continuing their education by enrolling in one of the College’s signature workforce or degree programs. Those programs include certified clinical medical assistant, aviation maintenance, supply chain management, and hospitality and tourism management programs. The four staff positions, along with instructional staff, will maintain a comprehensive support structure that helps adult learners enroll, persist, and achieve their goals.

The projected four-year outcomes are:

• 2,000 students served (500 unique students annually)
• At least 300 students will earn a GED
• At least 800 English language learners advance one or more Educational Functional Levels
• At least 400 students transition into workforce and degree programs (pending additional philanthropic support for workforce programs)
• Improved retention, measurable skill gains, completion, and employment outcomes as demonstrated in reports submitted to the Florida Department of Education

“This is part of Broward College’s commitment to serving low-income residents of Broward County and improving economic mobility,” said Terry Mularkey, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and CEO of the Broward College Foundation. “These programs offer onramps that lead to careers in the high-demand industries that drive the South Florida economy.”

The DeLuca Foundation, which has long provided transformational funding to Broward College to expand its Health Sciences and Workforce Education programming, supports local communities by creating and strengthening access to opportunities through education.

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