The Nan Ogburn Cullman Education Endowment for Johnston County, a fund of the North Carolina Community Foundation, awarded $113,000 in grants to 13 programs or projects at Smithfield-Selma High School in Johnston County.   

2025 grant awards include:  

• $10,000 for the Annual Leadership Conference  
• $10,000 for AVID and college tours/experiences 
• $15,000 to the Band for marching band equipment, uniforms and other needs 
• $10,000 for the chorus and theater programs  
• $9,950.40 for an Engineering Trip to the Outer Banks 
• $3,922.30 to the Hospitality and Tourism Academy 
• $13,922 for the International Baccalaureate programs 
• $15,705 for JoCo Teach program 
• $5,000 for Model UN 
• $10,000 for the Senior Leadership trip and experiences   
• $9,500 for the Unified Champion Schools program

Funds are awarded by a seven-member committee including one member each from the Johnston County Board of Commissioners, Johnston County Principal’s Association, Johnston County Education Foundation, Johnston County Arts Council, Smithfield-Selma High School Principal, Johnston County Community Foundation Advisory Board, and a representative from the Cullman family.   

About the endowment 
The Nan Ogburn Cullman Educational Endowment for Johnston County supports public education in Johnston County in the areas of art, travel and leadership. It was established through the estate of the late Nan Ogburn Cullman, a Johnston County native who led an extraordinary life as a professional singer and civic leader in Westchester County, NY, and was a worldwide traveler and explorer.  Since its founding, the endowment has awarded over $600,000 in grants to Smithfield-Selma High School. 

To learn more, visit: nccommunityfoundation.org/CullmanGrants. 

About the North Carolina Community Foundation 
The North Carolina Community Foundation transforms the collective generosity of our donors into a permanent source of community support, with a focus on the state’s rural areas.    

NCCF partners with donors and a network of affiliates to sustain over 1,300 endowments totaling nearly $570 million in assets. More than $338 million has been awarded as grants to charitable organizations and scholarships to students, creating stronger communities for generations to come.    

To learn more about how we turn generosity into impact, visit nccommunityfoundation.org.