Posted: Thursday, August 26, 2010 10:25 pm

From left: Glen Sellars, Belk; Johanna Anderson, Belk Foundation director; Ann Johnston, PENCIL Reading Partners director; Jacque Green, PENCIL Math Partners director; Jan Clevenger, Belk; and Greg Smith, Belk CoolSprings store manager.

Company's foundation launches new mission for youth

Brentwood Home Page news reports
The Belk Foundation announced two grants to Nashville-area education programs under a new mission focuses solely quality education for youth.

The foundation donated $25,000 to The Oasis Center’s Nashville College Connection and $20,000 to the PENCIL Foundation’s Reading and Math Partners.

Front row, from left: Bob Obrohta, Oasis staff; Donald Reed, Oasis youth; Hal Cato, President & CEO Oasis Center. Back row, from left: Glen Sellars, Belk; Jan Clevenger, Belk; Johanna Anderson, Belk Foundation director; Jeff Dotts, Oasis Center; Judith Clevjeuve, Oasis youth; Greg Smith, Belk CoolSprings Galleria store manger.

“Oasis Center and PENCIL Foundation are prime examples of organizations that are working hard to ensure that all students graduate from high school and continue on a successful path towards college, career and life,” said Katie B. Morris, chair of The Belk Foundation board of directors.

The organization is refocusing its mission on students from kindergarten through college, to ensure students graduate from high school and continue on an intentional path toward college, career and life.

“My grandfather, William Henry Belk, and his brother, John M. Belk, believed strongly in giving young people access to a good education,” Morris said. “After some deep soul searching, the board decided to refocus our mission solely on education for youth because investing in quality education creates a ripple effect that improves people’s lives and raises up communities.”

Grant awards will continue to focus on charitable organizations in communities where Belk department store associates live and work, with particular emphasis on Charlotte, where Belk, Inc. is based.

Belk has an anchor store at the CoolSprings Galleria as well as stores in Columbia, Murfreesboro, Mt. Juliet, Gallatin, Clarksville and Springfield.

Moving forward, The Foundation will invest in schools and organizations that have solid and measurable achievements and results, such as increasing the number of children and youth who:

• Are at or above grade level in core subjects

• Graduate high school in four years

• Have an intentional path forward after high school such as post-secondary education, training or meaningful employment.

The Belk Foundation, in its third generation of family leadership, had assets of more than $51 million as of May 31, 2010. Since 2000, the foundation has distributed more than $27 million to charities across the Southeast.

It is a separate entity from Belk Inc. and is department stores, founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk and Dr. John Montgomery Belk in 1888. More information is available at belkfoundation.org.