Donna Bailey-Taylor receives Frances Finch Hobart Award for Voluntary Community Service
Donna Bailey-Taylor, who serves on numerous community boards in Johnston County and has helped raise significant funds through donations and grants for many area projects, has received the Frances Finch Hobart Award for Voluntary Community Service.
Bailey-Taylor received the award from the Johnston County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation.
The award, established in 2006, is presented annually to someone from Johnston County who has demonstrated a commitment to service resulting in a stronger community. Award recipients help others solve social problems by giving their time, talent and energy; meet community needs through volunteering and mobilizing other volunteers; and demonstrate vision, selflessness and generosity.
Jonathan Levin, artistic director and founder of the Clayton Piano Festival, nominated Bailey-Taylor for the award. Levin said her community involvement is extensive and impactful.
“One of the most difficult things about building community organizations is finding qualified and motivated volunteers who don’t lose focus over time or quit when the going gets a little rough,” Levin said. “This steadfastness and generosity epitomize Donna’s work on every level.”
Bailey-Taylor’s efforts span decades and much of Johnston County.
- She raised funds for the Ava Gardner Museum, overseeing museum projects and helping to direct the Ava Gardner Festival.
- During her 25 years of working with the Friends of Bentonville Battlefield, the land acquired by the state grew from 250 acres to 2,300 acres.
- In the past year on the Johnston County Grows Agriculture Marketing Committee, she helped raise $268,000 through state and federal grants.
- Working with the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation, she helped raise grant funds for the first phase of the Neuse River Walk that would later become the Buffalo Creek Greenway.
- The budget for the Clayton Piano Festival is six times as large as it was when she joined the board seven years ago.
As part of her award, Bailey-Taylor was asked to select a local nonprofit to receive a $2,000 grant from the Frances Finch Hobart Award for Voluntary Community Service Fund. She selected the Clayton Piano Festival as the recipient of the grant.
About the North Carolina Community Foundation
The North Carolina Community Foundation is the statewide community foundation serving North Carolina and has administered over $243 million in grants since 1988. With more than $440 million in assets, NCCF sustains more than 1,200 endowments and partners with a network of affiliates to award grants and scholarships in communities across the state.
An important component of NCCF’s mission is to ensure rural philanthropy has a voice at the local, regional and national levels. For more information, visit nccommunityfoundation.org.
About the Johnston County Community Foundation
The Johnston County Community Foundation is an affiliate of NCCF. It is led by a local volunteer advisory board that helps build community assets through the creation of permanent endowments, makes grants and leverages leadership – all for the benefit of Johnston County. To learn more, visit nccommunityfoundation.org/johnston.
Media contact
Hannah Hogewood, Marketing & Communications Manager
hhogewood@nccommunityfoundation.org, 919-256-6901