| For Release: IMMEDIATE |
| Date: May 24, 2000 |
Sprint Contributes $50,000 to the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation
WAKE FOREST- Sprint has donated $50,000 to the Capital Campaign of the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation. The announcement came from Dwight Allen, president of Mid-Atlantic Operations for Sprint’s Local Telecommunications Division. Allen also is a member of the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation board of directors.
In making the announcement, Allen said Sprint is committed to improving educational opportunities.
"By enhancing the quality of education, we are shaping the futures of our communities, our state and our country," he said. "We believe in active corporate citizenship and are proud to support the work of the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation. Our community colleges ensure that excellent, affordable educational opportunities are accessible to everyone in our state."
J. Gregory Poole, Jr., chairman of the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation at the time Sprint’s donation was made, responded enthusiastically to the generous gift. "Dwight’s leadership and dedication to our community colleges is remarkable," he said. "We are so pleased that Sprint understands the value of North Carolina’s community colleges, as well as the struggles they face because of rapid growth and changes in industry standards. Sprint’s generosity sets an example for other North Carolina foundations and businesses."
Sprint, originally the Brown Telephone Company, was founded in 1899 by Cleyson L. Brown in Abilene, Kan. Sprint's local division, which serves 67 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, as well as portions of 17 other states, is a key partner in building the leading edge North Carolina Information Highway. Sprint’s Local Telecom Division offers local telephone services and leading-edge communications solutions to about 8 million homes and businesses nationwide.
The North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation was established 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. Gov. Dennis A. Wicker, former chairman of the State Board of Community Colleges. Gov. James B. Hunt, Jr. and President Lancaster recruited Poole to head the new board of directors, whose members include top leadership from business and industry, philanthropy, education and government.
The Foundation is conducting its capital campaign to raise at least $5 million 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; and educate, reward and motivate executive leadership and faculty to lead the state’s community colleges into becoming the most effective, efficient educational institutions in the nation. To date, the Foundation has raised more than $2.7 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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