Jane Simpson Hired as Executive Director

Community Foundations set themselves apart from other charities and non-profits through three special features: personalized service, local expertise, and community leadership. In its effort to gain local expertise, the Community Foundation of Davie County first worked to gain a better understanding of community non-profits; and knowledge of local issues and needs. This process identified two recurring themes: Youth and Literacy. Information was sought from school and community members and leaders through interviews and discussions, as well as surveys completed through local churches with the assistance of the Ministers’ Alliance.

The Community Foundation learned that serious issues face our children and youth. Issues range from dental and eye care needs, to domestic violence, to drug abuse, to lack of positive activities available for young people, to record numbers of children placed in Foster Care due to domestic violence and drug abuse situations at home, to a need to teach Hispanic children and their parents the English language, to a 4-year graduation rate at Davie High of only 67%.

The Community Foundation also learned that as young people face more and more challenging times, they begin to “disconnect” themselves from their community. The Annie E. Casey Foundation released an independent study in 2004 showing that 1 in 6 young adults ages 18 to 24 was not working, had no degree beyond high school, and was not enrolled in school. They were simply disconnected from their community; and the numbers appear to be increasing.

The Community Foundation learned that illiteracy affects all races, genders, and areas of our county. Whether it is a child who cannot read on grade level, or a youth who drops out of high school because they cannot read well enough to keep up with their classes, or an adult who lost a job and struggles with retraining because they cannot read, or an older adult who simply never learned to read; it is an issue of great concern for all members of the community. Latest research numbers show that 22% of North Carolina residents are illiterate. That translates to 1 in 5 residents in North Carolina!

Reversing these trends in our county will take a commitment of investment by all of us. Investment of our time and energy in volunteering and investment of our resources to provide financial support for programs that create change. “The Community Foundation is creating a Youth & Literacy Fund to give the community an opportunity to take part in a financial investment to make a difference in these issues in our community,” said Foundation president, Jane Simpson. “By pooling their gifts, citizens can join together as shareholders in an investment to create positive change.”

Questions about the Youth & Literacy Fund or gifts to the fund may be sent to the Community Foundation of Davie County, PO Box 546, Mocksville, NC 27028, (336) 753-6903.