T H E W I N S TO N - S A L E M F O U N DAT I O N 2014 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY | 2013 ANNUAL REPORT
2014 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY | 2013 ANNUAL REPORT
BUILDING
COMMUNITY
BUILDING
COMMUNITY
W
E ARE GRATEFUL FOR and delighted by our new home’s improved functionality and expanded facilities for enhanced collaboration. That said, we remain focused on why we’re here: The power of our mission thrives in the ideas and efforts of the people and organizations we serve as donors and grantees. Our working space is new; our commitment to community is close to a century old.
{
On the following pages, discover a number of remarkable stories. Whether nurturing youth in the Hispanic community, giving young people more educational opportunities, supporting vibrant arts organizations, or achieving healthier outcomes for teens facing difficult challenges, all who are featured in this year’s report are connected by the higher aspiration to build a better community.
DONOR: WOODY CLINARD
GRANTEE: HISPANICS IN PHILANTHROPY
DONOR: JOIA JOHNSON
DONOR: DR. TED BLOUNT
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT: NATASHA MORALESCASTELLANOS
GRANTEE: EXCHANGE/SCAN
}
BUILDING
COMMUNITY
W
E ARE GRATEFUL FOR and delighted by our new home’s improved functionality and expanded facilities for enhanced collaboration. That said, we remain focused on why we’re here: The power of our mission thrives in the ideas and efforts of the people and organizations we serve as donors and grantees. Our working space is new; our commitment to community is close to a century old.
{
On the following pages, discover a number of remarkable stories. Whether nurturing youth in the Hispanic community, giving young people more educational opportunities, supporting vibrant arts organizations, or achieving healthier outcomes for teens facing difficult challenges, all who are featured in this year’s report are connected by the higher aspiration to build a better community.
DONOR: WOODY CLINARD
GRANTEE: HISPANICS IN PHILANTHROPY
DONOR: JOIA JOHNSON
DONOR: DR. TED BLOUNT
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT: NATASHA MORALESCASTELLANOS
GRANTEE: EXCHANGE/SCAN
}
DONORS
NEXT: Woody Clinard’s unrestricted fund supported a Community Grant to HISPANICS IN PHILANTHROPY, which in turn provided vital grantmaking support to El Buen Pastor Latin Community Services.
WOODY CLINARD
F
“Everything we do today — the lives we touch — will live on in others long after we are gone.” —WOODY CLINARD
ORTY YEARS AGO, Woody Clinard made a bold decision. He sold family land and established the D. Elwood Clinard Charitable Trust at the Foundation in memory of his father. Woody’s move was audacious in several ways. He was just in his midforties — younger than the typical Foundation donor at the time. He was deeply rooted in Winston-Salem, but not part of the city’s circle of historically philanthropic families. And he committed fully to the Foundation’s values and purpose with an unrestricted fund. Then, as is the case now, an unrestricted fund is the most flexible type of fund that enables the Foundation to make grants in the community, in perpetuity. “I knew and trusted [Sebastian] C. Sommer, the executive director of the Foundation at the time,” says Woody. “He educated me about the Foundation and the value of an unrestricted fund. It made sense to me.” Since 1974, his fund has nurtured many community organizations and efforts through Community Grants. In recent years, it was instrumental in supporting Latino-led and Latino-serving nonprofits through the Foundation’s work with HISPANICS IN PHILANTHROPY . (next page) Over the years, Woody has made additional fund contributions, created another advised fund, and plans to include the Foundation in his estate. Woody’s generosity is a sign of his desire to create positive change in the world, a value he shared with his wife, Helen, who passed away in 2013. “Why did I make that decision then? Why do I give money away today? There are many layers to that answer,” he reflects. “I’ve been successful, I’m frugal, I’m practical, but I’d like to think the compassionate part of me is the main part.”
“And I’m an optimist. I look for the good things. I want to change the world for the better — and I think I can,” he says, with a grin, adding, “I think we can.” Woody is especially interested in education — “it’s an investment for the future” — and in efforts to support and engage the growing Hispanic community in the region. For more than 12 years, Woody has also been a volunteer reading tutor through the Augustine Project, first at Old Town Elementary and currently at Brunson Elementary. “It’s a joy,” he says of the time he spends with the children he tutors. He brings his considerable ideas and energy — along with his time and financial support — to the school system and other community organizations such as CHANGE, Forsyth Education Partnership, the Hispanic League, El Buen Pastor, and Planned Parenthood. Through the Foundation, Woody knows his resources will create positive change for generations to come. “Everything we do today — the lives we touch — will live on in others long after we are gone.”
THE D. ELWOOD CLINARD CHARITABLE TRUST, an unrestricted fund, was established in 1974 by Woody Clinard in honor of his father. Woody, along with his wife of 52 years, Helen Hall Clinard, established the D. Elwood and Helen H. Clinard Fund in 1994, a non-endowed advised fund. He is also a member of the Foundation’s Legacy Society. Left: Woody Clinard with Brunson Elementary students
DONORS
NEXT: Woody Clinard’s unrestricted fund supported a Community Grant to HISPANICS IN PHILANTHROPY, which in turn provided vital grantmaking support to El Buen Pastor Latin Community Services.
WOODY CLINARD
F
“Everything we do today — the lives we touch — will live on in others long after we are gone.” —WOODY CLINARD
ORTY YEARS AGO, Woody Clinard made a bold decision. He sold family land and established the D. Elwood Clinard Charitable Trust at the Foundation in memory of his father. Woody’s move was audacious in several ways. He was just in his midforties — younger than the typical Foundation donor at the time. He was deeply rooted in Winston-Salem, but not part of the city’s circle of historically philanthropic families. And he committed fully to the Foundation’s values and purpose with an unrestricted fund. Then, as is the case now, an unrestricted fund is the most flexible type of fund that enables the Foundation to make grants in the community, in perpetuity. “I knew and trusted [Sebastian] C. Sommer, the executive director of the Foundation at the time,” says Woody. “He educated me about the Foundation and the value of an unrestricted fund. It made sense to me.” Since 1974, his fund has nurtured many community organizations and efforts through Community Grants. In recent years, it was instrumental in supporting Latino-led and Latino-serving nonprofits through the Foundation’s work with HISPANICS IN PHILANTHROPY . (next page) Over the years, Woody has made additional fund contributions, created another advised fund, and plans to include the Foundation in his estate. Woody’s generosity is a sign of his desire to create positive change in the world, a value he shared with his wife, Helen, who passed away in 2013. “Why did I make that decision then? Why do I give money away today? There are many layers to that answer,” he reflects. “I’ve been successful, I’m frugal, I’m practical, but I’d like to think the compassionate part of me is the main part.”
“And I’m an optimist. I look for the good things. I want to change the world for the better — and I think I can,” he says, with a grin, adding, “I think we can.” Woody is especially interested in education — “it’s an investment for the future” — and in efforts to support and engage the growing Hispanic community in the region. For more than 12 years, Woody has also been a volunteer reading tutor through the Augustine Project, first at Old Town Elementary and currently at Brunson Elementary. “It’s a joy,” he says of the time he spends with the children he tutors. He brings his considerable ideas and energy — along with his time and financial support — to the school system and other community organizations such as CHANGE, Forsyth Education Partnership, the Hispanic League, El Buen Pastor, and Planned Parenthood. Through the Foundation, Woody knows his resources will create positive change for generations to come. “Everything we do today — the lives we touch — will live on in others long after we are gone.”
THE D. ELWOOD CLINARD CHARITABLE TRUST, an unrestricted fund, was established in 1974 by Woody Clinard in honor of his father. Woody, along with his wife of 52 years, Helen Hall Clinard, established the D. Elwood and Helen H. Clinard Fund in 1994, a non-endowed advised fund. He is also a member of the Foundation’s Legacy Society. Left: Woody Clinard with Brunson Elementary students
COMMUNITY GRANTS
H
HISPANICS IN PHILANTHROPY
OW DO YOU MAGNIFY the power of a grant — and amplify
voices? That’s exactly what the transnational group, Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), is doing in Forsyth County, in close partnership with The Winston-Salem Foundation. The HIP Funders’ Collaborative for Strong Latino Communities pools national, regional, and local dollars to support Latino-led, Latino-serving nonprofits — while strengthening the knowledge of other funders about Latino communities. “Building stronger Latino-led nonprofit organizations builds stronger Latino communities,” says Althea González, North Carolina Program Manager with HIP. “But many foundations and donors have no idea how to fund in this area or connect with Latinos and hear their voices.” The Collaborative addresses the challenge from both sides. By using a matching funds structure, local financial commitments have greater impact. HIP provides grants, technical assistance, and annually hosts learning and networking sessions for the Latino nonprofit community. Over time, the network of Latino nonprofits and the larger philanthropic community learn from one another, invest in opportunities, and drive community change. The Funders’ Collaborative began 12 years ago in North Carolina and is focused on capacity building, rather than on specific programs or short-term efforts — an approach that aligns with the Foundation’s funding priorities. “You have to have some capacity to build capacity. You have to have some funding to get funding,” says Althea. “Our investment builds a nonprofit’s capacity, credibility, and confidence. This gives an incentive for others to fund, too.” As a Collaborative member, the Foundation has provided leadership and staff support for Funders’ Collaborative committees for
more than a decade. “The Foundation is very generous and responsive,” Althea notes. “Their staff’s leadership and commitment has made the Foundation a passionate advocate for the Latino voice.” El Buen Pastor Latino Community Services is one of the Collaborative’s grantees in Forsyth County. El Buen Pastor partners with Latino families to help children and adults fulfill their educational and economic potential, building hope for a positive and healthy future. It builds community through a range of programs,
“Building stronger Latino-led nonprofit organizations builds stronger Latino communities.” —ALTHEA GONZÁLEZ, NORTH CAROLINA PROGRAM MANAGER WITH HIP
including a kindergarten readiness program for preschoolers and their mothers, after school tutoring for K-12 students, a six-week summer camp that blends enrichment activities — reading, art, gardening — with tutoring, and a new Family Literacy Initiative. The Collaborative has supported its infrastructure needs, especially critical when El Buen Pastor began eight years ago. “The funding was a huge hand up and it opened other doors for us,” says Executive Director Mary Bolton. “The training is also important because in the early years it was the only way we had to network and learn from other people leading Latino organizations.”
COMMUNITY GRANTS
H
HISPANICS IN PHILANTHROPY
OW DO YOU MAGNIFY the power of a grant — and amplify
voices? That’s exactly what the transnational group, Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), is doing in Forsyth County, in close partnership with The Winston-Salem Foundation. The HIP Funders’ Collaborative for Strong Latino Communities pools national, regional, and local dollars to support Latino-led, Latino-serving nonprofits — while strengthening the knowledge of other funders about Latino communities. “Building stronger Latino-led nonprofit organizations builds stronger Latino communities,” says Althea González, North Carolina Program Manager with HIP. “But many foundations and donors have no idea how to fund in this area or connect with Latinos and hear their voices.” The Collaborative addresses the challenge from both sides. By using a matching funds structure, local financial commitments have greater impact. HIP provides grants, technical assistance, and annually hosts learning and networking sessions for the Latino nonprofit community. Over time, the network of Latino nonprofits and the larger philanthropic community learn from one another, invest in opportunities, and drive community change. The Funders’ Collaborative began 12 years ago in North Carolina and is focused on capacity building, rather than on specific programs or short-term efforts — an approach that aligns with the Foundation’s funding priorities. “You have to have some capacity to build capacity. You have to have some funding to get funding,” says Althea. “Our investment builds a nonprofit’s capacity, credibility, and confidence. This gives an incentive for others to fund, too.” As a Collaborative member, the Foundation has provided leadership and staff support for Funders’ Collaborative committees for
more than a decade. “The Foundation is very generous and responsive,” Althea notes. “Their staff’s leadership and commitment has made the Foundation a passionate advocate for the Latino voice.” El Buen Pastor Latino Community Services is one of the Collaborative’s grantees in Forsyth County. El Buen Pastor partners with Latino families to help children and adults fulfill their educational and economic potential, building hope for a positive and healthy future. It builds community through a range of programs,
“Building stronger Latino-led nonprofit organizations builds stronger Latino communities.” —ALTHEA GONZÁLEZ, NORTH CAROLINA PROGRAM MANAGER WITH HIP
including a kindergarten readiness program for preschoolers and their mothers, after school tutoring for K-12 students, a six-week summer camp that blends enrichment activities — reading, art, gardening — with tutoring, and a new Family Literacy Initiative. The Collaborative has supported its infrastructure needs, especially critical when El Buen Pastor began eight years ago. “The funding was a huge hand up and it opened other doors for us,” says Executive Director Mary Bolton. “The training is also important because in the early years it was the only way we had to network and learn from other people leading Latino organizations.”
HISPANICS IN PHILANTHROPY, CONTINUED
“El Buen Pastor has been a good steward of HIP capacity-building money,” says Althea. “It continues to grow and its board and staff are always learning from the opportunities offered to them.” “If this generation of children succeeds in school, we will not be doing this same work in 15 years. The community will decide,” says Mary. “The Foundation has a good lens on this. We can trust it to respond to community needs as they evolve in the future.”
SINCE 2002, the Foundation has made four Community Grants totaling $225,000 to the Hispanics in Philanthropy Funders’ Collaborative for Strong Latino Communities, earning matching grants and fueling important local programs and organizations. During that time, over $600,000 has been leveraged and ultimately invested in Forsyth County nonprofits through grants, training, and technical assistance. Local grantees have included El Buen Pastor Latino Community Services, the Hispanic League, and the International Center of Forsyth Tech. Looking ahead, the HIP Funder’s Collaborative will continue to learn and grow, too. In 2014, the Collaborative will launch its fourth phase of funding in North Carolina, building on the lessons learned in the past 12 years. Phase Four will focus on new and innovative ways to develop Latino leaders, strengthen civic engagement, and further build the network of Latino nonprofits across North Carolina. All photos: El Buen Pastor’s Summer Enrichment Program
“If this generation of children succeeds in school, we will not be doing this same work in 15 years. The community will decide.” —MARY BOLTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EL BUEN PASTOR LATINO COMMUNITY SERVICES
HISPANICS IN PHILANTHROPY, CONTINUED
“El Buen Pastor has been a good steward of HIP capacity-building money,” says Althea. “It continues to grow and its board and staff are always learning from the opportunities offered to them.” “If this generation of children succeeds in school, we will not be doing this same work in 15 years. The community will decide,” says Mary. “The Foundation has a good lens on this. We can trust it to respond to community needs as they evolve in the future.”
SINCE 2002, the Foundation has made four Community Grants totaling $225,000 to the Hispanics in Philanthropy Funders’ Collaborative for Strong Latino Communities, earning matching grants and fueling important local programs and organizations. During that time, over $600,000 has been leveraged and ultimately invested in Forsyth County nonprofits through grants, training, and technical assistance. Local grantees have included El Buen Pastor Latino Community Services, the Hispanic League, and the International Center of Forsyth Tech. Looking ahead, the HIP Funder’s Collaborative will continue to learn and grow, too. In 2014, the Collaborative will launch its fourth phase of funding in North Carolina, building on the lessons learned in the past 12 years. Phase Four will focus on new and innovative ways to develop Latino leaders, strengthen civic engagement, and further build the network of Latino nonprofits across North Carolina. All photos: El Buen Pastor’s Summer Enrichment Program
“If this generation of children succeeds in school, we will not be doing this same work in 15 years. The community will decide.” —MARY BOLTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EL BUEN PASTOR LATINO COMMUNITY SERVICES
DONORS
JOIA JOHNSON
J
OIA JOHNSON’S BROAD INTERESTS and curious nature fuel her life — and are shaping her legacy. Joia was raised in Atlanta by her musical father and concert pianist mother. “Music was just part of my life,” she says. “And I was involved in and exposed to all different types of art: theatre, dance, and visual arts.” In high school, she added student government, athletics, and academics to her young resume. At Duke University, her love for the arts held, although she ultimately double majored in economics and public policy. Her multidisciplinary approach continued at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a law degree and an MBA. Nearly eight years ago, Joia moved to Winston-Salem as General Counsel at Hanesbrands. The vibrant arts and philanthropic community in Winston-Salem appealed to Joia, who quickly immersed herself in local and regional nonprofit organizations — something she had done extensively living in Atlanta. She sings in the chorale with the Winston-Salem Symphony and has been on the boards of the Symphony, SECCA, Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Forsyth Medical Center, and the Penland School of Crafts in Penland, NC. “One of the best ways to get to know people and become happy in a new community is by getting involved in nonprofits and other organizations,” Joia says. “Plus, I think we all need to find something we love to do outside of work.” Early on, she connected with The Winston-Salem Foundation. She had been on the board of the Atlanta Community Foundation and considers community foundations a practical way to address several goals at once: “I get to earn a return on my investment, plus
support an organization that’s contributing to the community, plus move forward with providing for whatever legacy I hope to leave.” With that legacy idea in mind, Joia is funding a designated endowment at the Foundation for the Penland School of Crafts. “Penland is just a wonderful place, a treasure,” she says, explaining that her broad interests influenced her decision to create a scholarship at Penland for non-artists to train in visual art for the summer. “I like the fusion of different ideas and experiences, so I thought about cross-training for artistic souls,” Joia explains. “I could envision dancers or musicians gaining new perspective and adding to the richness of the Penland community.” Through the Foundation, “I know the money will be taken care of and my wishes honored.” As Joia gives her energy, time, perspective, and resources, she recommends that others do the same. “Whatever your passion — the arts, church, running, biking, literacy, homelessness — participate and give to something. Whether you are in this community for a short time or a long time, support what gives you satisfaction and pay it forward for the next person.”
JOIA JOHNSON established the Johnson Legacy Fund for Art in 2012 as an endowed designated fund for scholarships for Penland School of Crafts students. Her JMJ Community Investment Fund, a non-endowed advised fund, was also established in 2012. Joia is a member of the Foundation’s Legacy Society. Right: Joia Johnson
“One of the best ways to get to know people and become happy in a new community is by getting involved in nonprofits and other organizations.” —JOIA JOHNSON
DONORS
JOIA JOHNSON
J
OIA JOHNSON’S BROAD INTERESTS and curious nature fuel her life — and are shaping her legacy. Joia was raised in Atlanta by her musical father and concert pianist mother. “Music was just part of my life,” she says. “And I was involved in and exposed to all different types of art: theatre, dance, and visual arts.” In high school, she added student government, athletics, and academics to her young resume. At Duke University, her love for the arts held, although she ultimately double majored in economics and public policy. Her multidisciplinary approach continued at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a law degree and an MBA. Nearly eight years ago, Joia moved to Winston-Salem as General Counsel at Hanesbrands. The vibrant arts and philanthropic community in Winston-Salem appealed to Joia, who quickly immersed herself in local and regional nonprofit organizations — something she had done extensively living in Atlanta. She sings in the chorale with the Winston-Salem Symphony and has been on the boards of the Symphony, SECCA, Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Forsyth Medical Center, and the Penland School of Crafts in Penland, NC. “One of the best ways to get to know people and become happy in a new community is by getting involved in nonprofits and other organizations,” Joia says. “Plus, I think we all need to find something we love to do outside of work.” Early on, she connected with The Winston-Salem Foundation. She had been on the board of the Atlanta Community Foundation and considers community foundations a practical way to address several goals at once: “I get to earn a return on my investment, plus
support an organization that’s contributing to the community, plus move forward with providing for whatever legacy I hope to leave.” With that legacy idea in mind, Joia is funding a designated endowment at the Foundation for the Penland School of Crafts. “Penland is just a wonderful place, a treasure,” she says, explaining that her broad interests influenced her decision to create a scholarship at Penland for non-artists to train in visual art for the summer. “I like the fusion of different ideas and experiences, so I thought about cross-training for artistic souls,” Joia explains. “I could envision dancers or musicians gaining new perspective and adding to the richness of the Penland community.” Through the Foundation, “I know the money will be taken care of and my wishes honored.” As Joia gives her energy, time, perspective, and resources, she recommends that others do the same. “Whatever your passion — the arts, church, running, biking, literacy, homelessness — participate and give to something. Whether you are in this community for a short time or a long time, support what gives you satisfaction and pay it forward for the next person.”
JOIA JOHNSON established the Johnson Legacy Fund for Art in 2012 as an endowed designated fund for scholarships for Penland School of Crafts students. Her JMJ Community Investment Fund, a non-endowed advised fund, was also established in 2012. Joia is a member of the Foundation’s Legacy Society. Right: Joia Johnson
“One of the best ways to get to know people and become happy in a new community is by getting involved in nonprofits and other organizations.” —JOIA JOHNSON
DONORS
NEXT: Of the numerous grants made from Dr. Blount’s two funds, one provided a scholarship for NATASHA MORALES-CASTELLANOS to attend Salem College and his unrestricted fund helped to support a parent/teen program at EXCHANGE/SCAN in Forsyth County.
DR. TED BLOUNT
D
“The idea of a community foundation and the work it was doing just sounded so good to me. The more I heard about the Foundation, the more I approved of what it was trying to do.” —DR. TED BLOUNT
R. TED BLOUNT and The Winston-Salem Foundation go way
back. Ted was born in 1919 — the same year the Foundation got its start. “That caught my eye,” when he learned about the Foundation from friends many years ago, says Ted. “We’re both 95 years old.” “The idea of a community foundation and the work it was doing just sounded so good to me. The more I heard about the Foundation, the more I approved of what it was trying to do.” Initially, he donated to the Foundation’s annual appeal (“I gave $100 one year — the next year, we had three percent inflation so I gave $103 that year,” Ted recalls, with a smile). Now, Ted’s gifts are funding not only college scholarships but also community programs for young people — a fitting legacy for a pediatrician. “If you take care of the children, you get more productive adults and more amity in the community,” Ted says, adding, “Education is the ultimate answer to most of our problems.” Ted and his wife, Charlotte, who passed away last year, came to Winston-Salem in 1949, raised a family and became deeply tied to the community. Charlotte, too, was committed to the well-being of children and families. A reviewer of children’s books, she wrote a weekly column for the Winston-Salem Journal and helped to fill the bookshelves of school libraries. Ted appreciates the approach the Foundation takes, with staff checking in periodically to share how his funds are making a difference. He sees himself as part of a community tradition of generosity and is proud of Winston-Salem’s strong history of giving of time, talent, and resources to important causes. Ted’s perspective has also been influenced by his extensive world travels. He and Charlotte traveled across Europe and visited Japan,
Tibet, and China — often in conjunction with international physicians’ conferences. Ted also served for two months as a physician in Thailand at a refugee camp for Cambodians fleeing from Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. As a result of his international experiences, Ted says he “learned to appreciate cultural differences and to be grateful for the affluence of this country and generosity of this community.” But Ted’s sense of generosity also goes back to his earliest years. “My father was a lay administrator of the Community Chest [precursor to the United Way] as I was growing up. He gave me the idea that it’s a good idea to consider other people. Everybody has an obligation to give back.” And, he added matter-of-factly, “You can’t take it with you.”
THE F.A. AND CHARLOTTE BLOUNT SCHOLARSHIP, which was established in 2007, is a $2,500 renewable award for a graduating Forsyth County high school senior. The Blount Fund, a field of interest endowment, was established in 2010 to support programs to benefit youth, with a particular emphasis on programs supporting parenting, single parents, and strengthening family relationships. Ted is also a member of the Foundation’s Legacy Society. Left: Dr. Ted Blount
DONORS
NEXT: Of the numerous grants made from Dr. Blount’s two funds, one provided a scholarship for NATASHA MORALES-CASTELLANOS to attend Salem College and his unrestricted fund helped to support a parent/teen program at EXCHANGE/SCAN in Forsyth County.
DR. TED BLOUNT
D
“The idea of a community foundation and the work it was doing just sounded so good to me. The more I heard about the Foundation, the more I approved of what it was trying to do.” —DR. TED BLOUNT
R. TED BLOUNT and The Winston-Salem Foundation go way
back. Ted was born in 1919 — the same year the Foundation got its start. “That caught my eye,” when he learned about the Foundation from friends many years ago, says Ted. “We’re both 95 years old.” “The idea of a community foundation and the work it was doing just sounded so good to me. The more I heard about the Foundation, the more I approved of what it was trying to do.” Initially, he donated to the Foundation’s annual appeal (“I gave $100 one year — the next year, we had three percent inflation so I gave $103 that year,” Ted recalls, with a smile). Now, Ted’s gifts are funding not only college scholarships but also community programs for young people — a fitting legacy for a pediatrician. “If you take care of the children, you get more productive adults and more amity in the community,” Ted says, adding, “Education is the ultimate answer to most of our problems.” Ted and his wife, Charlotte, who passed away last year, came to Winston-Salem in 1949, raised a family and became deeply tied to the community. Charlotte, too, was committed to the well-being of children and families. A reviewer of children’s books, she wrote a weekly column for the Winston-Salem Journal and helped to fill the bookshelves of school libraries. Ted appreciates the approach the Foundation takes, with staff checking in periodically to share how his funds are making a difference. He sees himself as part of a community tradition of generosity and is proud of Winston-Salem’s strong history of giving of time, talent, and resources to important causes. Ted’s perspective has also been influenced by his extensive world travels. He and Charlotte traveled across Europe and visited Japan,
Tibet, and China — often in conjunction with international physicians’ conferences. Ted also served for two months as a physician in Thailand at a refugee camp for Cambodians fleeing from Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. As a result of his international experiences, Ted says he “learned to appreciate cultural differences and to be grateful for the affluence of this country and generosity of this community.” But Ted’s sense of generosity also goes back to his earliest years. “My father was a lay administrator of the Community Chest [precursor to the United Way] as I was growing up. He gave me the idea that it’s a good idea to consider other people. Everybody has an obligation to give back.” And, he added matter-of-factly, “You can’t take it with you.”
THE F.A. AND CHARLOTTE BLOUNT SCHOLARSHIP, which was established in 2007, is a $2,500 renewable award for a graduating Forsyth County high school senior. The Blount Fund, a field of interest endowment, was established in 2010 to support programs to benefit youth, with a particular emphasis on programs supporting parenting, single parents, and strengthening family relationships. Ted is also a member of the Foundation’s Legacy Society. Left: Dr. Ted Blount
STUDENT AID
A
NATASHA MORALES-CASTELLANOS
SMART AND DISCIPLINED STUDENT, Natasha MoralesCastellanos earned top grades in high school. With a 4.0 GPA and a 5.034 weighted GPA, she was second in her class of 335 at Glenn High School. But Natasha’s school records don’t fully reflect her laser-like focus on education. Nor do they show her fierce determination, generous spirit, or deep appreciation for all the people who have helped her along the way. Natasha, now a junior at Salem College with 3.867 GPA, is a firstgeneration college student. She also migrated with her mother to the United States from Mexico at age five. Soon after, she fell in love with learning. “I loved school, even when I was really little,” she said. “And I knew education was definitely important, something I had to do. Education was the way to help my family in the future.” Through middle school and high school, Natasha kept her eye on college. Challenging chemistry classes narrowed her goal further: to be a chemical engineer. Busy working part-time jobs, volunteering with the El Nido family literacy program, and babysitting her younger brother and sister, Natasha stayed focused. Mentors gave encouragement and direction (“I still talk to my first grade teacher!” she says). Supportive teachers and guidance counselors helped her navigate the complex process of applying to college. But the bigger question was how to pay for it. Financial aid and scholarships are often only offered to those who have citizenship — possibly leaving Natasha’s dream out of reach. “It was really a struggle through the whole year, to keep my goal in mind and be sure I could make it happen,” says Natasha.
Natasha ultimately received several scholarships from the Foundation and from other organizations, including the Hispanic League. “When I realized I could do it, that I could go to college, it was amazing,” she remembers. “I told my mom, and she cried. She saw that I had a passion, but knew she couldn’t help me. She didn’t know how it would happen.” For herself and for others in her shoes, Natasha is quick to say thank you to the people who create and fund scholarships. “I am very grateful for the money,” she says. “It’s important to realize a scholarship has a real impact on people. It is what makes opportunities. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to go after a dream, to achieve something, and give back.” Natasha, working toward a double major in chemistry and math with a minor in Spanish, now has her sights set on the next goal: going to graduate school.
NATASHA MORALES-CASTELLANOS received the F.A. and Charlotte Blount Scholarship, established in 2007 as a $2,500 renewable award for a graduating Forsyth County high school senior pursuing a four-year baccalaureate degree. In 2012, she received the John Russell Jarman Scholarship, a $500 one-time award supporting a graduating senior at Glenn High School. Natasha has also received grants from two other funds at the Foundation: the Otis B. and Genevieve Parrish Scholarship and the Kate B. Reynolds Scholarship. Right: Natasha Morales-Castellanos
“When I realized I could do it, that I could go to college, it was amazing. I told my mom, and she cried.” —NATASHA MORALES-CASTELLANOS
STUDENT AID
A
NATASHA MORALES-CASTELLANOS
SMART AND DISCIPLINED STUDENT, Natasha MoralesCastellanos earned top grades in high school. With a 4.0 GPA and a 5.034 weighted GPA, she was second in her class of 335 at Glenn High School. But Natasha’s school records don’t fully reflect her laser-like focus on education. Nor do they show her fierce determination, generous spirit, or deep appreciation for all the people who have helped her along the way. Natasha, now a junior at Salem College with 3.867 GPA, is a firstgeneration college student. She also migrated with her mother to the United States from Mexico at age five. Soon after, she fell in love with learning. “I loved school, even when I was really little,” she said. “And I knew education was definitely important, something I had to do. Education was the way to help my family in the future.” Through middle school and high school, Natasha kept her eye on college. Challenging chemistry classes narrowed her goal further: to be a chemical engineer. Busy working part-time jobs, volunteering with the El Nido family literacy program, and babysitting her younger brother and sister, Natasha stayed focused. Mentors gave encouragement and direction (“I still talk to my first grade teacher!” she says). Supportive teachers and guidance counselors helped her navigate the complex process of applying to college. But the bigger question was how to pay for it. Financial aid and scholarships are often only offered to those who have citizenship — possibly leaving Natasha’s dream out of reach. “It was really a struggle through the whole year, to keep my goal in mind and be sure I could make it happen,” says Natasha.
Natasha ultimately received several scholarships from the Foundation and from other organizations, including the Hispanic League. “When I realized I could do it, that I could go to college, it was amazing,” she remembers. “I told my mom, and she cried. She saw that I had a passion, but knew she couldn’t help me. She didn’t know how it would happen.” For herself and for others in her shoes, Natasha is quick to say thank you to the people who create and fund scholarships. “I am very grateful for the money,” she says. “It’s important to realize a scholarship has a real impact on people. It is what makes opportunities. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to go after a dream, to achieve something, and give back.” Natasha, working toward a double major in chemistry and math with a minor in Spanish, now has her sights set on the next goal: going to graduate school.
NATASHA MORALES-CASTELLANOS received the F.A. and Charlotte Blount Scholarship, established in 2007 as a $2,500 renewable award for a graduating Forsyth County high school senior pursuing a four-year baccalaureate degree. In 2012, she received the John Russell Jarman Scholarship, a $500 one-time award supporting a graduating senior at Glenn High School. Natasha has also received grants from two other funds at the Foundation: the Otis B. and Genevieve Parrish Scholarship and the Kate B. Reynolds Scholarship. Right: Natasha Morales-Castellanos
“When I realized I could do it, that I could go to college, it was amazing. I told my mom, and she cried.” —NATASHA MORALES-CASTELLANOS
COMMUNITY GRANTS
EXCHANGE/SCAN
D
ENICE SMITH AND ELENA ALVARDO were at an impasse.
Good intentions were not overcoming the resentment, anger, and frustration in their relationship. Like any parent of a teenager, Denice was facing new challenges. But having raised two boys, she knew she was in different territory with Elena. Denice is not Elena’s mom — she is her legal guardian and parent since Elena’s mother, Sherri, died of ovarian cancer nearly three years ago. Denice and Sherri had been long-time friends and shared the same faith. With prayer and soul-searching, they decided Denice and her husband would be Elena’s new family. When Sherri passed away, Elena was just shy of her twelfth birthday. “Of course, Elena was struggling with the loss of her mother,” says Denice. “There were a lot of tough dynamics between us. We’ve each seen therapists, but being counseled separately wasn’t working. Then it got really awful. She was acting out with selfdestructive behaviors, and I didn’t handle things well, either. I started to feel she would be better off in another home.” Today, Denice and Elena are happier and hopeful. They learned about the Parent/Teen Solutions programs with Exchange/SCAN and jumped at the chance to have counselor Kendra Edwards work with them in their home in Kernersville each week. Offering in-home visits and 12 weeks of group sessions for parents and teens satisfied an unmet need, says Cynthia NapoleonHanger, Executive Director of Exchange/SCAN. “We have done lots of work supporting parents and families with newborns and children under 12, but we had nothing to offer families and teens in Forsyth County,” she says. “Parents were calling with issues related to their teens, feeling like they’ve tried everything, and they needed help.”
Exchange/SCAN had successfully implemented Parent/ Teen Solutions in Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin counties, drawing on evidence-based national models. With a start-up Community Grant from the Foundation, the nonprofit was able to hire Kendra and begin the program in Forsyth County. “Without the Foundation grant, the program would not be in this community,” Cynthia adds. Both the group sessions and home visits focus on issues such as communication, relationships, problem solving, stress and anger management, substance abuse, and self-esteem.
“Without the Foundation grant, the program would not be in this community.” —CYNTHIA NAPOLEON-HANGER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EXCHANGE/SCAN
“Visiting with a family, in their home, you see them together and work with them on what’s going on with them at that moment,” says Kendra. “Elena and Denice are seeing good progress on their goals to work as a team, communicate honestly, and improve self-care.” “We are much better,” agree Denice and Elena. “Kendra is helping us as a family — not just one or the other,” says Denice. “She listens to both of us. She isn’t judging. And she’s reinforcing positive behaviors.” “Kendra has helped me calm down enough so I can see the good in Elena again. And Elena is a good example of forgiveness and compassion and learning to let things go.”
COMMUNITY GRANTS
EXCHANGE/SCAN
D
ENICE SMITH AND ELENA ALVARDO were at an impasse.
Good intentions were not overcoming the resentment, anger, and frustration in their relationship. Like any parent of a teenager, Denice was facing new challenges. But having raised two boys, she knew she was in different territory with Elena. Denice is not Elena’s mom — she is her legal guardian and parent since Elena’s mother, Sherri, died of ovarian cancer nearly three years ago. Denice and Sherri had been long-time friends and shared the same faith. With prayer and soul-searching, they decided Denice and her husband would be Elena’s new family. When Sherri passed away, Elena was just shy of her twelfth birthday. “Of course, Elena was struggling with the loss of her mother,” says Denice. “There were a lot of tough dynamics between us. We’ve each seen therapists, but being counseled separately wasn’t working. Then it got really awful. She was acting out with selfdestructive behaviors, and I didn’t handle things well, either. I started to feel she would be better off in another home.” Today, Denice and Elena are happier and hopeful. They learned about the Parent/Teen Solutions programs with Exchange/SCAN and jumped at the chance to have counselor Kendra Edwards work with them in their home in Kernersville each week. Offering in-home visits and 12 weeks of group sessions for parents and teens satisfied an unmet need, says Cynthia NapoleonHanger, Executive Director of Exchange/SCAN. “We have done lots of work supporting parents and families with newborns and children under 12, but we had nothing to offer families and teens in Forsyth County,” she says. “Parents were calling with issues related to their teens, feeling like they’ve tried everything, and they needed help.”
Exchange/SCAN had successfully implemented Parent/ Teen Solutions in Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin counties, drawing on evidence-based national models. With a start-up Community Grant from the Foundation, the nonprofit was able to hire Kendra and begin the program in Forsyth County. “Without the Foundation grant, the program would not be in this community,” Cynthia adds. Both the group sessions and home visits focus on issues such as communication, relationships, problem solving, stress and anger management, substance abuse, and self-esteem.
“Without the Foundation grant, the program would not be in this community.” —CYNTHIA NAPOLEON-HANGER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EXCHANGE/SCAN
“Visiting with a family, in their home, you see them together and work with them on what’s going on with them at that moment,” says Kendra. “Elena and Denice are seeing good progress on their goals to work as a team, communicate honestly, and improve self-care.” “We are much better,” agree Denice and Elena. “Kendra is helping us as a family — not just one or the other,” says Denice. “She listens to both of us. She isn’t judging. And she’s reinforcing positive behaviors.” “Kendra has helped me calm down enough so I can see the good in Elena again. And Elena is a good example of forgiveness and compassion and learning to let things go.”
EXCHANGE/SCAN, CONTINUED
EXCHANGE/SCAN was established in 1981 and now provides a variety of programs to prevent and treat child abuse across 16 counties in Northwest North Carolina. In 2011, the Foundation began three years of Community Grant support totaling $76,608 to establish and expand the Parent/Teen Solutions programming in Forsyth County. The grants supported a counselor who works intensively with families on a weekly basis and in a 12-week series of group sessions. Having demonstrated the ongoing need for and effectiveness of the program, Parent/Teen Solutions in Forsyth County is currently being funded by a grant from the Department of Juvenile Justice. Left: Elena Alvardo, Kendra Edwards, and Denice Smith
“Visiting with a family, in their home, you see them together and work with them on what’s going on with them at that moment.” —KENDRA EDWARDS COUNSELOR AT EXCHANGE/SCAN
EXCHANGE/SCAN, CONTINUED
EXCHANGE/SCAN was established in 1981 and now provides a variety of programs to prevent and treat child abuse across 16 counties in Northwest North Carolina. In 2011, the Foundation began three years of Community Grant support totaling $76,608 to establish and expand the Parent/Teen Solutions programming in Forsyth County. The grants supported a counselor who works intensively with families on a weekly basis and in a 12-week series of group sessions. Having demonstrated the ongoing need for and effectiveness of the program, Parent/Teen Solutions in Forsyth County is currently being funded by a grant from the Department of Juvenile Justice. Left: Elena Alvardo, Kendra Edwards, and Denice Smith
“Visiting with a family, in their home, you see them together and work with them on what’s going on with them at that moment.” —KENDRA EDWARDS COUNSELOR AT EXCHANGE/SCAN
751 West Fourth Street, Suite 200 Winston-Salem, NC 27101-2702 Telephone (336) 725-2382 Toll-free (866) 227-1209 Fax (336) 727-0581 www.wsfoundation.org
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