Philanthropy can help fill the gaps to support communities, and NCCF and our fundholders have readily stepped in to do so.  

J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex in Wilson

 In Wilson, the Shreve family established an endowment in 2023 to provide ongoing support for maintenance and future construction at the J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex. a public park with soccer, baseball and t-ball fields, walking trails and gathering spaces. 

“This endowment will go a long way to helping the park’s future growth and maintenance,” said Bill Shreve, who is also a board member of our Wilson County affiliate. 

 

TownStage Amphitheater in Troy 

In Montgomery County, the TownStage Amphitheater was built in Capel Centennial Park as part of the revitalization of downtown Troy.  Each summer, TownStage hosts outdoor concerts with bands like The Embers, Liquid Pleasure, and Band of Oz performing, bringing the community together to enjoy live music, food trucks and fellowship.  

To ensure that the amphitheater remains a vibrant community asset, donor Winston Dozier Jr. established the TownStage Foundation Endowment, coming alongside the town of Troy to supplement public funds and provide general maintenance and upkeep of the amphitheater. 

 

Health care and hospice support for Randolph and Edgecombe counties 

In Randolph County, our local affiliate was instrumental in establishing a new endowment created with the remaining funds from a health foundation that dissolved after the local health system’s bankruptcy and purchase. The endowment makes a long-term philanthropic investment in support of Randolph County residents’ health and well-being. Starting in 2024, $15,000 in grants will be available to health-related programs serving the area.   

“Establishing this endowment fund allows us to continue the legacy of the foundation in working to keep our community healthy and well,” said Jerry Moore, a pharmacist who served on the hospital foundation board and is also a member of the CFRC advisory board. 

Edgecombe County faced a similar issue. After for-profit hospice entities came to Edgecombe County, the need dwindled for the nonprofit Hospice Foundation of Edgecombe County, Inc.  The Hospice Foundation’s board voted to dissolve and use its remaining funds to establish an endowment to support organizations providing palliative care and support and hospice-related services for Edgecombe County patients and their families. 

Through our Edgecombe affiliate foundation, the new endowment awarded its first two grants in 2023 to Edgecombe Cancer Support Foundation and ECU Health Foundation to provide support for cancer and hospice patients and their families.