TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, part of the Florida State University College of Business, has been awarded a 2019 Lighting the Way Award and a $75,000 grant by the SunTrust Foundation for its contributions to small businesses throughout Florida.

The SunTrust Foundation’s Lighting the Way Awards recognize and support nonprofit organizations that work to build self-sufficient families and more financially confident communities through financial education, financial counseling, career readiness/workforce development and small business/entrepreneurship.

“The SunTrust Foundation is proud to recognize and support our local nonprofit partners that empower and strengthen the communities they serve,” said Stan Little, president of the SunTrust Foundation. “The Jim Moran Institute is making a meaningful impact with their programs to improve the financial well-being of the people who need it most.”

The Jim Moran Institute is one of 36 nonprofits across the Southeast and Midwest to receive a 2019 Lighting the Way Award. The SunTrust Foundation gave a total of $2.7 million in grants to these nonprofits.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the SunTrust Foundation for our work assisting Florida’s small business owners and veteran entrepreneurs,” said Melissa Roberts, managing director of the Jim Moran Institute. “This award is a testament to the Jim Moran Institute team members who work tirelessly to provide small businesses with the training needed for continued growth and success.”

About the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship
The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship cultivates, trains and inspires entrepreneurial leaders through world-class executive education, applied training, public recognition and leading-edge research. Jim Moran was an automotive pioneer and an entrepreneur at heart, who at the age of 7, sold soda pop at sandlot baseball games in Chicago. With a career that spanned more than six decades, he built an amazing chronicle of achievements in the automobile industry. His vision for the Jim Moran Institute was to provide opportunities that would help others become more successful business owners. A 1995 contribution from Jim and Jan Moran and JM Family Enterprises established the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at the Florida State University College of Business. Since 2011, further enhancements to the Jim Moran Institute and its outreach have been made possible by Jan Moran and The Jim Moran Foundation.

About SunTrust Foundation
The SunTrust Foundation is committed to SunTrust Bank’s (NYSE: STI) purpose of Lighting the Way to financial Well-Being by engaging with local and national organizations to advance financial confidence. Grants and activities focus primarily on financial education, financial counseling, career readiness and small business/entrepreneurship, in addition to local community grants. The SunTrust Foundation supports American Red Cross disaster relief efforts and contributes as a United Way Global Corporate Leader. Established in 2008, the SunTrust Foundation has proudly provided grants totaling more than $170 million throughout the United States.