The Wilkes Community Foundation, a North Carolina Community Foundation affiliate, has awarded $10,440 in grants to eight organizations supporting the local community.

The board of advisors granted:

• $1,940 to Communities in Schools of North Carolina for career-readiness programs for vulnerable youth at Wilkes Central High School
• $1,500 to Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center of Wilkes for general operating support, awarded in honor of the Kyle Hayes Memorial Endowment
• $1,000 to Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes Inc. for Project Backpack
• $1,000 to Wilkes Community College Foundation for transportation for Access to Achievement Students at Wilkes Community College
• $1,500 to Wilkes Community Partnership for Children for the Wilkes County Free Diaper Pantry
• $1,500 to Wilkes Early College High School for Science Olympiad
• $1,000 to Wilkes Literacy for digital health literacy for Wilkes County adults
• $1,000 to YMCA of Northwest North Carolina for Wilkes Family YMCA afterschool access and family stability

“Supporting local nonprofits and community organizations like these is one of the most direct ways to strengthen our community,” said Michelle Shepherd, advisory board president of the Wilkes Community Foundation. “As a community foundation, we turn generosity into lasting community support year after year.”

Funds for 2026 grants came from the community grantmaking fund. Each year, WCF’s advisory board uses dollars from its endowment fund to make grants to eligible local organizations, including nonprofits, local governments, schools and churches.

Visit nccommunityfoundation.org/Wilkes to learn more about the Wilkes Community Foundation and its work or to make a tax-deductible donation.

Wilkes Community Foundation Advisory Board Members
Founded in 1993, the Wilkes Community Foundation is led by a local volunteer advisory board that understands community needs. In addition to Shepherd, board members include Jean Hefner (vice president), Victoria Brooks, Linda Cheek, Fred Costello, Luke Jarvis, Craig Langston, Lena Lovette, Laura Luffman, Kim Osborne and Mary Smith.

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 over $600 million in assets. Nearly $360 million has been awarded as grants to charitable organizations and scholarships to students, creating stronger communities for generations to come.