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The Suffolk Foundation announced in a news release that it is holding its annual Fall Forum and Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Community members are invited to attend this annual event, designed to bring together philanthropists, business professionals, the nonprofit community, and local leaders of all backgrounds and interests. 

“Guests can look forward to celebrating good works in Suffolk and Western Tidewater and learning more about how we can work together to help our community thrive,” the news release said.

The keynote speaker this year is Tim Lee, who will be asking and answering: “How ‘AI’ is Changing the Future of Education.” Lee founded Amplified IT, an EdTech consultancy firm that ensures schools get the most out of their EdTech investments and adopt best practices. 

“If Tim Lee’s name is familiar to you, it may be because he started his business in Suffolk, worked extensively with Suffolk Public Schools, and served as the Director of Technology for Nansemond-Suffolk Academy from 2011-2013,” the release said. “Lee bootstrapped Amplified IT from its early days in Suffolk and Norfolk to become a global powerhouse for EdTech, working alongside the Google for Education team to drive the “impactful adoption” of Google Chromebooks and Google Workspace in schools everywhere. Amplified IT won the prestigious Google Cloud Global Partner Award for Customer Success in Google for Education in 2017. In 2021, Amplified IT was acquired by CDW, a Fortune 200 company.”

Lee will explore how this new wave of Artificial Intelligence (AI) – if harnessed appropriately – can re-imagine education and much more. 

“Whatever your role is in our community, this upcoming paradigm shift will affect us all,” Lee said. 

Lee will share practical approaches for schools, nonprofits, and small businesses and how we can rethink the skills needed to succeed.

The event will be held at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts at 110 West Finney Avenue in downtown Suffolk, beginning at 11:30 a.m. with a reception and nonprofit expo, featuring projects and nonprofits funded by the Suffolk Foundation in 2022 through its Community Impact Grants Program. 

The luncheon, program, and keynote address will go from noon until 2 p.m. The program will also include highlights from the Suffolk Foundation’s last year of grantmaking.

“Thanks to generous event sponsors, there is no cost to attend the Suffolk Foundation’s Fall Forum, but preregistration is required due to limited seating,” the release said. 

RSVP at www.suffolkfoundation.org. Event sponsors (as of this writing) include Allfirst, Atlantic Union, Birdsong Peanuts, Butler Paper Recycling, Cross Realty, Davenport, Carl and Denise Farris, Hackworth, O. Kermit Hobbs Jr., David and April Host, Johns Brothers Security, Karen and Chris Jones, Land Planning Solutions, Louis and Mary Haddad Foundation, Nansemond Insurance, Overton Group, Whitney and Ellen Saunders, Scott Bradshaw & Rawls PC, Southern Bank, TowneBank, and Margie and Mark Wiley. 

Anyone interested in contributing to the Suffolk Foundation, sponsoring the Forum, or starting a charitable fund for grants or scholarships can contact Lorelei Morrow at 757-923-9090.