Sandra Day O'Connor helps honor Bonnie McElveen-Hunter at Annual Luncheon

Administrator — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:55:57 -0600

The Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, discussed her long friendship with Greensboro philanthropist Bonnie McElveen-Hunter and presented her with The Community Foundation’s highest award at the Foundation’s Annual Luncheon on March 8.

McElveen-Hunter is the founder and chief executive officer of Pace Communications in Greensboro, chair of the American Red Cross and former ambassador to the Republic of Finland. She also is a longtime philanthropist and supporter of The Community Foundation.

“Bonnie is just magic,” Justice O’Connor said and then proceeded to innumerate just some of McElveen-Hunter’s many achievements. She also touched on the importance of community foundations, noting that she is actively involved with the one in her permanent residence of Phoenix, Ariz.

The Foundation presented McElveen-Hunter with its highest honor, the Thornton H. Brooks Leadership Award, which is given to an individual who embodies the spirit of quiet giving that was a hallmark of Brooks, a founder of The Community Foundation.

“Like Thornton, Bonnie has given back to her community in substantial ways,” said Louise Brady, chair of the Foundation’s board of directors. “And although her philanthropic endeavors and volunteerism have taken her to national and international levels of prominence, she has never forgotten her community, Greensboro.”

Justice O’Connor was introduced by one of her former Supreme Court law clerks, Julia Ambrose, now a partner with Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP, the Presenting Sponsor of this year’s Annual Luncheon. Ambrose surprised her mentor with a special announcement – in agreeing to serve as the Presenting Sponsor, her law firm contributed $25,000 to the Foundation’s Women to Women Endowment to name Justice O’Connor a founding member.

Prior to the luncheon, Justice O’Connor, joined by McElveen-Hunter and Foundation President Walker Sanders, mingled with other founding members of Women to Women at a private coffee reception in her honor. The Women to Women Endowment, established in 2008, will provide high-impact grants in support of issues important to Greensboro-area women and families.

At the luncheon, with more than 500 in attendance, McElveen-Hunter discussed her views on philanthropy and the importance of women taking a leading role.

“You L.M.U – lift me up,” she said, adding she accepted the award on behalf of her family “and all of you” who also have helped make a positive difference.

Meanwhile, Richard “Skip” Moore, president of the Weaver Foundation, received the Calvin A. Michaels Community Service Award. Community Foundation President Walker Sanders noted the long, special interest in the new International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro by both the Weaver Foundation and Moore personally.

“Without Skip’s efforts on behalf of the museum, it is unlikely we would now have this new gem in downtown Greensboro,” Sanders said.

Foundation partners on Faith & Fairness Town Hall event

Administrator — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:45:53 -0600

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro is partnering with other area organizations and faith-based institutions on a Faith and Fairness Town Hall meeting, sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

This interfaith, all-inclusive event will take place on Thursday, March 18, at First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro. Participants should enter through the entrance at Fisher Park and Greene Street. A reception will take place from 5-6 p.m. in First Presbyterian's Virginia Gilmer Room, followed by the panel discussion from 6-8 p.m. in the sanctuary.

The keynote speaker is the Rev. Dr. Miguel De La Torre, professor of Social Ethics at the Iliff School of Theology. Panelists include the Rev. Dr. Arnetta Beverly of St. Matthews UMC, Rabbi Fred Guttman of Temple Emanuel and the Rev. Susan Parker of Wake Forest Baptist Church. The moderator will be Harry Knox, director of HRC's Religion and Faith Program.

More information on the Faith & Fairness Town Hall is available online by clicking here.

A number of diverse community partners are participating in the event, including Bennett College -- Belles Recognizing Individuality, Diversity and Equality (BRIDE), Equality North Carolina, Faith Action International House, Faith in America, Gay Straight Advocates For Education (G-SAFE), Guilford Green Foundation, HOLA-NC: Hispanic Organization of LGBT and Amigos of North Carolina, Human Rights Campaign Foundation, The National Conference for Community and Justice of the Piedmont Triad, Inc. (NCCJ), N.C. A&T University -- Acceptance Without Exception (AWE), Wake Forest University Gay-Straight Student Alliance and Winston-Salem State Gay-Straight Alliance.

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Greensboro fire and police lose weight to raise money

Administrator — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:45:32 -0600

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Personnel from the city’s police and fire departments have launched Greensboro’s Police/Fire Biggest Winner Challenge, a fundraiser in which the contestants lose weight while raising money for charity.

Partners in the endeavor include The Greensboro Sportsplex, CrossFit Greensboro and Triad Complete Nutrition.

The public may donate to the charities of the departments’ choice through charitable purpose funds established at The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro. Click here to go to the Foundation’s donation page.

Ten applicants from each department will battle each other to see who can lose the most amount of weight and body fat over the next eight weeks. Triad Complete Nutrition will be handle the nutrition angle, while CrossFit Greensboro will train the athletes at the Greensboro Sportsplex.

The teams will have weekly weigh-ins, as well as several fitness and sport competitions to earn extra weight loss.

Another part of the competition involves donations. The team raising the most money will be rewarded with extra weight loss.

Each department has chosen to benefit a specific charity. The police department will raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, while the fire department will raise money for the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Competitors will each donate $50, for a total of $1,000, which will go to the winner’s charity.

Triad Complete Nutrition and CrossFit Greensboro are offering nutrition and fitness seminars for companies that make certain levels of sponsorship donations. The goal is to raise more than $10,000 for the various charities.

For more information, contact John Meeks at John.meeks@greensboro-nc.gov.

HAITI: How you can help!

Administrator — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:01:00 -0600

The people of earthquake-ravaged Haiti need everyone's help. The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro has received many calls from fundholders and the public on ways they can offer this much-needed assistance.

During this difficult time, the thoughts and prayers of our community are with the victims as well as those who are trying desperately to provide aid and relief.

There are a number of reputable national and international organizations through which you may lend your support. Click on each link to check them out:

The Salvation Army

UNICEF

Doctors Without Borders

American Red Cross

United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund

World Relief

In addition, The Community Foundation is a member of The Council on Foundations. This organization's Web site provides an updated list of additional ways to give, as well as news on what is taking place in Haiti and on a number of different ongoing responses. Click here for the COF's Haiti information.

Many of our fundholders have already provided financial aid through their donor-advised funds. The Community Foundation can help others who would like to contribute similarly.