RALEIGH, N.C. DEC. 12, 2011 — Art Pope, President of the John William Pope Foundation, announced today that the Foundation’s board has approved $1,240,000 in local charitable grants. The charitable grants were awarded to humanitarian, arts, and education non-profits as well as Universities in the Raleigh area.
“I am glad that the Pope Foundation, with the support of Variety Wholesalers, can continue its charitable giving in these hard economic times of need, and even step up our giving by raising $300,000 for StepUp Ministry.”
The Pope Foundation awarded $800,000 to groups such as the Raleigh Rescue Mission, Urban Ministries of Wake County, Alliance Medical Ministry, and Habitat for Humanity, which focus on alleviating poverty, poor health, and housing deficiencies. Additional grants to the NC Opera, Ballet, Theatre, Symphony, and Performance Edge support and enhance cultural institutions.
Also in calendar year 2011, the Pope Foundation awarded grants to local universities including a $300,000 donation (of a $1.2 million pledge) to Campbell University’s Law School in downtown Raleigh and $140,000 for a Public Choice, Law, and Economics program at North Carolina State University.
On December 3, 2011, the Pope Foundation celebrated 25 years of grant making by hosting a dinner and fundraiser for StepUP Ministry, a non-profit specializing in job and life skills training. As unemployment continues to plague our economy, StepUP Ministry has helped the community by placing 300 jobless and sometimes homeless individuals into Wake County jobs. With the $300,000 raised at the Pope Foundation dinner, StepUP plans to increase their job-placement number to 600 by the end of 2014.
The John William Pope Foundation is a private, family foundation, supported by the late John W. Pope, Sr., of Raleigh, North Carolina, his wife, Joyce W. Pope, and their children: Art Pope of Raleigh, North Carolina, Amanda Pope of Citra, Florida, and their late son, John William Pope, Jr. The Pope Foundation receives additional support from the family’s business, Variety Wholesalers, Inc., which owns and operates Roses, Maxway, Super 10, and other discount stores, and holds its offices and distribution centers in Raleigh and Henderson, North Carolina.
For more information, interviews, or details on the application process, contact Dave Riggs or David Bass at 919-861-6449 or press@jwpf.org.