Jennifer Tolle Whiteside, president and CEO of the North Carolina Community Foundation, was inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine during a celebration of her 20-year legacy at NCCF on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh.

Nearly 150 friends, family members, colleagues and current and former co-workers gathered to honor Tolle Whiteside as she prepares to step down. The evening included a surprise announcement from Gov. Josh Stein, who revealed in a video message that Tolle Whiteside would receive the state’s highest civilian honor. The award recognizes significant contributions to North Carolina through exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.

Stein recognized Tolle Whiteside for more than 40 years of service as a nonprofit and civic leader, including her leadership at NCCF and as the first president and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina (now Positive Childhood Alliance NC).

“Jennifer has led this foundation through periods of growth and significant impact, especially in North Carolina’s rural communities, and our state is better because of it,” Stein said in his message.

Tolle Whiteside joined NCCF in October 2006 as its second president and CEO. Under her leadership, donor contributions and investment returns helped increase the foundation’s assets more than sixfold, to more than $600 million. The number of donor-established charitable funds grew from 900 to more than 1,300. During her tenure, NCCF also awarded more than $300 million in grants and scholarships to nonprofits and students across the state.

“The thing that has brought me back every day is the people and the people around this room that I’ve worked with,” she said.

She thanked NCCF’s staff, board members, fundholders and affiliate foundations, as well as her family, for their support. Calling her time at the foundation “the honor of a lifetime,” Tolle Whiteside closed by reflecting on the impact of their collective work.

“Philanthropy has the power to change lives,” she said.