Category: Philanthropy

For over ten years, the John William Pope Foundation, led by Chairman and former President Art Pope, has supported a program with the Boy Scouts of America, Occoneechee Council – a group of ten districts in the following North Carolina counties: Chatham, Cumberland, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Lee, Moore, Orange, Vance, Wake and Warren.  The program, the Pope Eagle Scout Scholars Program, annually chooses a select group of graduating Eagle Scouts to receive a college scholarship.  In April, five scholars were selected as the 2016 recipients. From the John William Pope Foundation: April 28, 2016 RALEIGH, N.C. – The John William Pope Foundation and the Boy Scouts of America Occoneechee Council have announced the 2016 Pope Eagle Scout Scholars.  Five high school students were selected from an applicant pool of over 50. Applicants were required to have completed the rank of ‘Eagle Scout’ and be a current or former member of the Occoneechee Council. Four of the Pope Eagle Scout Scholars will receive a $20,000 scholarship to be applied towards their post-secondary education.  They are Nicholas Anderson of Wake Forest (Wake Forest High School), Justin Do of Raleigh (Needham B. Broughton High School), Daniel Kunath of Apex (Saint Thomas More Academy), and Collin Thrash of Cary (Ravenscroft School).  A fifth scholar, Vince Friedman of Raleigh (Jesse O. Sanderson High School) was recently selected as a Class of 2020 Morehead-Cain Scholar, so his scholarship will be honorary as the Morehead program covers all college expenses. “We are very proud of these great young men as representatives of the Scouting program,” said John Akerman, scout executive for the Occoneechee Council.  “The achievement of a young man to earn his Eagle Scout Rank is a testimony to his ability to set a very challenging goal at a young age and work diligently to achieve this pinnacle award for Scouting.  The young men selected to receive the Pope Eagle Scout Scholarship not only achieved in the Scouting program, but in school and other extra-curricular activities as well.” The late John William Pope, a Raleigh businessman and philanthropist, established the Pope Eagle Scout Scholarship Program in 2001 to support the studies and development of future free enterprise leaders.  The program has continued with an annual $40,000 matching grant from the Pope Foundation. The Occoneechee Council is the largest Boy Scouts Council in North Carolina and serves over 20,000 scouts each year.  They have served as the only partner for the Pope Foundation’s scholarship program since its inception.   Learn more about the Pope Foundation’s support of the Occoneechee Council.

From the John William Pope Foundation and the North Carolina Museum of Art March 13, 2016 RALEIGH, N.C. — The John William Pope Foundation, named for the founder of the Variety Wholesalers and Roses retail discount chain, has awarded a $500,000 grant to the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh to name one of the museum’s gallery spaces in memory of the late Joyce W. Pope. The Museum’s Gallery 2, a 2,800-square-foot gallery space that’s hosted exhibitions of work by Edvard Munch and Leonardo da Vinci, will be renamed as the Joyce W. Pope Gallery. Joyce W. Pope, wife of John William Pope and mother of the Variety Wholesalers CEO, chairman and former state budget director Art Pope, was president of the Pope Foundation from 1986 to 1992. She was also a founding member of the Raleigh Fine Arts Society. In a news release about the announcement, Art Pope noted that his mother had always been a strong supporter of the arts. “She would be humbled. But I also think she would be delighted to know that many visitors, particularly student visitors, will continue to enjoy fine works of art during their Museum trips in a gallery that bears her name,” he stated. The first exhibition to be presented in the new Joyce W. Pope Gallery is American Impressionist: Childe Hassam and the Isles of Shoals, which opens March 19. Money from the unrestricted grant will go toward general operating support for the museum’s exhibitions, concerts, lectures and programming.  

From the John William Pope Foundation March 1, 2016 RALEIGH, N.C. — At a press conference in Hendersonville, the John William Pope Foundation announced the winner of its first statewide competitive grant, the Joy Pope Memorial Grant in Human Services. The Dandelion Eatery, a project of Safelight Family Services (formerly Mainstay Women’s Shelter) received a one-time gift of $100,000 to expand its commercial teaching kitchen. Opened in 2013, Dandelion Eatery provides jobs training for domestic violence victims while operating as a restaurant open to the public. The Pope Foundation traveled to Hendersonville to award Safelight the $100,000 Joy Pope Grant in Human Services for their nonprofit restaurant, Dandelion Eatery. “Ultimately, we were highly impressed with the innovative nature of the Dandelion Eatery project,” said Foundation Vice President Joyce Pope. “They saw a way to break the cycle of abuse by empowering their clients to be self-sufficient, and that goal has positive lifelong effects for individuals, families, and communities.” Tanya Blackford, Director of Safelight, thanked the Pope Foundation for this gift. “We are grateful to have the Pope Foundation partner with us to expand the Dandelion program. This generous investment will allow us to offer job training internships to even more clients. Completing this program is essential to a victim’s long-term success in re-entering the workforce and being able to provide for her family.” The Joy Pope Memorial Grant in Human Services was part of a pair of competitive grants offered by the Pope Foundation last fall. Over 60 applications were submitted for the prize named in honor of Joy Pope, wife of entrepreneur and philanthropist John William Pope. She was a dedicated patron of arts and human service organizations and served as president of the Foundation from 1986-1992. Her son, Art Pope, now serves as the foundation’s chairman which is based in Raleigh and has given more than $100 million since its founding. ### To learn more about Dandelion, visit their website or see their menu on Facebook visit.

From the John William Pope Foundation January 12, 2016 RALEIGH, N.C. –The John William Pope Foundation has announced the winner of its first statewide competitive grant, the Joy Pope Memorial Grant in the Arts. The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra will receive $100,000 for a youth orchestra instrument lending library. The grant is a one-time award. The Pope Foundation received 28 applications for the Memorial Arts Grant, representing communities from across the state. “The project submitted by the Fayetteville Symphony was unique and an excellent use of one-time funds,” said John Hood, president of the Pope Foundation. “We hope this new initiative by the symphony will inspire other arts organizations as they work to find innovative ways to serve their communities.” The symphony’s idea for a lending library grew out of the realization that many students weren’t able to practice their instruments and/or didn’t have access to renting one. “Many of the students are eager to participate [in music education], but can’t afford the opportunity,” said Christine Kastner, president and CEO of the Fayetteville Symphony. “This grant will be transformational for the Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra and for music education in Southeastern North Carolina.” The symphony will lend instruments to families that cannot afford rental fees and will lend instruments that are not readily available in the area, such as the ‘A clarinet.” In return, students will commit to participation in the youth orchestra, which will offer performance opportunities and coaching by the symphony’s professional musicians. Currently 50 students participate in the youth orchestra, representing Robeson, Hoke, Moore, and Lee Counties in addition to Cumberland County. “We truly appreciate all of the arts organizations who applied for this grant,” said Joyce Pope, vice president of the Pope Foundation. “We know the Fayetteville Symphony will make an impact on many lives for years to come, and we are appreciative of their efforts and work to deploy the instrument library.” Joy Pope was the wife of the late entrepreneur and philanthropist John William Pope and the mother of current foundation chairman Art Pope. She was a dedicated patron of arts and human service organizations and served as president of the foundation from 1986-1992.  The John William Pope Foundation is a Raleigh, North Carolina grant maker whose giving has totaled more than $100 million since its founding in 1986.   ###

From the John William Pope Foundation  December 15, 2015 RALEIGH, N.C. — The John William Pope Foundation recently awarded $1.8 million to North Carolina nonprofits in its winter grant cycle. Of that, over $1 million went to humanitarian organizations that meet hunger, housing, and health needs, primarily in the Triangle region. That figure includes $400,000 to the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center to help fulfill a $1.3 million pledge made in 2014. “We’re pleased to help ease the burden of North Carolinians who are in need,” said foundation Chairman Art Pope. “Our grantees are doing excellent work to ensure that real and pressing issues are addressed in our communities. They are also providing first-class access to arts and education. The true value of our grantees’ work cannot be overstated,” said Pope. First-time grants were made to Camp Corral ($10,000), Dress for Success of Eastern North Carolina ($10,000), the Hope Center at Pullen ($5,000), Junior Achievement of the Triangle ($5,000), TROSA ($10,000), Wake County 4-H ($10,000), and Raleigh Camerata ($2,500).  A full list of the winter 2015 grantees can be found below. The Foundation works to improve the well being of citizens in North Carolina and the nation through the advancement of individual freedom and personal responsibility. From its first grant in 1986 to the present, the Foundation’s giving has totaled more than $100 million, and has been primarily directed to organizations in North Carolina. John William Pope Foundation December 2015 Grantees: Artspace $5,000 Carolina Ballet $25,000 Community Music School $5,000 Kidznotes $10,000 NC Theatre $50,000 North Carolina Museum of Art $250,000 North Carolina Opera $15,000 North Carolina Symphony $25,000 Performance Edge $5,000 Raleigh Camerata $2,500 Raleigh Fine Arts Society $25,000 Raleigh Little Theatre $5,000 Asheville School $225,000 Boy Scouts of America – Occoneechee Council $10,000 Neuse Christian Academy $2,500 Raleigh Charter High School $25,000 Ravenscroft School $25,000 Wake County 4-H $10,000 ACTS of Vance County $10,500 Alliance Medical Ministry $20,000 Camp Corral $10,000 CASA-Community Alternatives for Supportive Abodes $5,000 Children’s Hope Alliance $10,000 CORRAL Riding Academy $5,000 Disabilities Education Support Center $4,000 Dress for Success of Eastern North Carolina $10,000 Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina $10,000 Full Gospel Tabernacle Church $25,000 Girl Scouts of America-Vance County $5,000 Green Chair Project $10,000 H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library $15,000 Habitat for Humanity of Wake County $20,000 Helping Horse Therapeutic Riding Program $5,000 Henderson YMCA $5,000 Hope Center at Pullen $5,000 Hope Reins $10,000 Inter-Faith Food Shuttle $10,000 Interfaith Prison Ministry for Women $10,000 Junior Achievement $10,000 Lucy Daniels Center $5,000 NC Youth Legislative Assembly Administration $5,000 Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina $25,000 Raleigh Rescue Mission $10,000 Safe Haven for Cats $6,000 Salvation Army of Wake County $10,000 SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals $30,000 Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen $10,000 StepUp Ministry $50,000 Transitions LifeCare $10,000 Triangle Special Hockey Association $5,000 TROSA $10,000 UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center $400,000 United Way of Vance County $15,000 Urban Ministries of Wake County $10,000 Vance County Historical Society $5,000 White Memorial Presbyterian Church $250,000 YMCA of the Triangle Area $5,000