2025 Inspire Awards

The Truist Foundation Inspire Awards are the culmination of a rigorous, months-long journey designed to scale nonprofit solutions that drive economic mobility. For Network Frequency, the 2025 cycle was a hallmark of our commitment to high-stakes storytelling.

For over eight months, our team worked hand-in-hand with MIT Solve and the Truist Foundation to act as the visual architects for the six finalists. We didn’t just capture an event; we spent months developing and producing the Finalist Pitch Videos—cinematic assets that the nonprofits now own to continue their mission-critical work long after the competition.

The Six Finalists: A Cohort of Innovation

Under the steady leadership of Truist Foundation President Lynette Bell, this challenge focused on reskilling and career navigation for adult workers. We had the privilege of working intimately with these six visionary organizations to bring their stories to life:

1. FreeWorld (First Place & Audience Favorite): A tech-enabled solution reskilling formerly incarcerated citizens for the trucking industry.

2. Encore Employment Enterprises (Second Place): “Seniors R The Answer,” a call-center training program specifically for older adults.

3. Lifecycle Building Center (Atlanta, GA): Equipping adults in low-income communities with skills in building material recovery and deconstruction.

4. The Masonry Foundation: “ReCastED,” a model offering tradespeople a flexible pathway to Career and Technical Education (CTE) teaching positions.

5. Integrity Transformations CDC: A digital platform, “BestFit,” helping adult learners manage basic needs and non-academic barriers to employment.

6. Electrical Training Alliance (VEEP): A pre-apprenticeship program for military personnel re-entering the civilian workforce in the electrical trade.

Real-Time Delivery at the Carolina Theatre

When the journey reached the stage at the Carolina Theatre in Charlotte, our team shifted into “Live Experience” mode. Beyond the months of pre-production, we provided photography, video capture, and on-site post-production support. This allowed for a real-time social media rollout, ensuring the energy of the pitches—and the final announcements by Lynette Bell and emcee Robin Roberts—was felt globally the moment it happened.

Purpose in Action

We want to extend a sincere thank you to the Truist Foundation for trusting Network Frequency as an invaluable partner. It is rare to work with a brand that so consistently puts action to their purpose. By providing these finalists with high-quality media assets they can repurpose for years to come, Truist isn’t just funding nonprofits; they are empowering them with the tools to tell their own stories.

We are honored to continue our support of these philanthropies and look forward to seeing the long-term impact of the over $500,000 in grants awarded this year.