RALEIGH, N.C. – Today, the John William Pope Foundation announced the winners of the 2018 Joy W. Pope Memorial Grants in the Arts and Human Services. The recipients of the one-time, $100,000 grants are Stokes County Arts Council in Danbury, North Carolina and Haywood Pathways Center in Waynesville, North Carolina.
Stokes County Arts Council will use the 2018 Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant in the Arts to complete phase two construction of The Arts Place of Stokes. Opened in 2017, The Arts Place is a multi-purpose community arts facility. Along with additional funding already received, Stokes Arts will use their grant to construct a classroom/meeting space, pottery studio, prep kitchen, reception area, artist’s studios and a rooftop patio. Stokes Arts will also install an ADA-compliant wheelchair lift, adding accessibility to the space. The project is expected to be finished in summer 2018. Stokes Arts was founded in 1975 and has grown to offer arts education programming in all 19 county schools, gallery exhibits, arts classes and special programs.
“This acknowledgement is one of the most gratifying moments in the 43-year history of the Stokes County Arts Council, especially since the award supports the completion of The Arts Place of Stokes — Stokes County’s first multi-purpose arts venue,” said Stokes Arts Executive Director Eddy McGee. “This is definitely a moment we will share and celebrate with all of the residents of Stokes County.”
Haywood Pathways Center will use the 2018 Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant in Human Services to help fund the construction of an emergency/short-term shelter for homeless families. Increased need and a local motel’s closing expedited the project. When completed, it will be the only emergency housing in Haywood County for homeless women with children and will be able to accommodate up to 10 families at a time. Haywood Pathways formed in 2014 when multiple organizations merged, and a defunct jail was repurposed with special assistance from TV star Ty Pennington. Haywood Pathways supports men, women and children during periods of crisis with services that include emergency housing, a soup kitchen and employment training.
“Haywood Pathways Center is extremely honored to receive this prestigious grant,” said Haywood Pathways Executive Director Mandy Haithcox. “We look forward to expanding to include moms and kids, so that they can also benefit from services to help break the cycles of homelessness and build solid foundations for the future.”
More than 60 North Carolina nonprofits applied for the two awards. The Foundation was impressed with the quality and vision of the applicants, and the choice was a difficult one. The grants were created in 2015 to recognize innovative ideas that generate long-term results and are named in honor of Joy W. Pope, wife of philanthropist and retail entrepreneur John William Pope. Mrs. Pope served as President of the Pope Foundation from 1986-1992. Applications for the 2019 Joy W. Pope Memorial Grants will be accepted online from June 1, 2018 – August 30, 2018.
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To reach Stokes County Arts Council Executive Director, contact Executive Director Eddy McGee at (336) 593-8159. To reach Haywood Pathways Center, contact Executive Director Mandy Haithcox at (828) 246-0332.