| For Release: IMMEDIATE | Contact: Public Affairs |
| Date: June 5, 2000 |
Century Furniture Industries Pledges $25,000 to the
North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation
HICKORY- Century Furniture Industries has pledged $25,000 to the Capital Campaign of the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation.
The announcement comes from Harley F. Shuford, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Directors of Century Furniture, and J. Gregory Poole, Jr., chairman of the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation board of directors at the time the gift was made. Mr. Shuford also serves as a member of the board of directors for the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation and on numerous other boards.
In making the announcement, Shuford said, "Our local community colleges have provided critical training for the furniture industry and we are proud to support the System that has served our industry so well."
Poole responded enthusiastically to the generous pledge. "Mr. Shuford understands how valuable North Carolina’s community colleges are and the important role they play in many North Carolina industries. We are so pleased with Century Furniture’s generosity and know it will set a tremendous example to other businesses and industries."
Century Furniture Industries, located in Hickory, North Carolina, is an employee-owned manufacturer of fine quality home furnishings. It was founded in 1947 by Harley F. Shuford, Sr., and now has over 1,700 employees.
The North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation was formed in 1986 to help sustain the mission and programs of the North Carolina Community College System. After several dormant years, the Foundation was reorganized in 1998 under the leadership of H. Martin Lancaster, President of the North Carolina Community College System, and Lt. Governor Dennis A. Wicker, who was then chairman of the State Board of Community Colleges. Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. and President Lancaster recruited Gregory Poole to head the new Board of Directors, whose members now include top leadership from business and industry, philanthropy, education and government. Stephen P. Zelnak, Jr., President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Martin Marietta Materials, succeeded Poole as Foundation Chair in March of 2000.
The Foundation is conducting a capital campaign to raise at least five million dollars for an endowment to fund system wide efforts on behalf of community colleges. Endowment income will be used to improve the effectiveness of the System; promote the benefits of community colleges; educate; and reward and motivate executive leadership and faculty to lead North Carolina's community colleges into becoming the most effective, efficient educational institutions in the nation. As of June 1, the Foundation has raised more than $3 million in pledges and contributions.
The North Carolina Community College System, with more than 747,000 students, is the third largest community college system in the United States. It includes 58 comprehensive community colleges and the North Carolina Center for Applied Textile Technology. The System is the state’s primary agency for delivery of job training, literacy and adult education programs.
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