New Hanover Community Endowment holds public meeting to highlight initiatives, grant-making priorities
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — More than 100 people gathered for the New Hanover Community Endowment’s semi-annual public meeting and listening session, held Wednesday night at Cape Fear Community College’s Union Station.
The meeting allowed New Hanover County residents to learn more about the Endowment’s accomplishments this year and then ask questions and provide feedback to the Endowment.
Dozens of people spoke about a variety of topics, ranging from education to homelessness and affordable housing
At one point, Endowment Interim CEO Sophie Dagenais addressed a concern shared by Bonnie Montelone, the founder of Plastic Ocean Project, about whether the environment was part of the endowment’s focus.
“How can we utilize the tools that we provide this community coming in from the environment side,” Monteleone asked.
“I am going to predict that the environment will play a very, very important role in our work for a multitude of reasons, including the economy itself,” Dagenais said. “There’s a whole economy around the environment and I can imagine there is going to be some very interesting opportunities.”
Endowment Board Chair Shannon Winslow said that having so many people attend the meeting and discuss a wide range of topics demonstrates an interest in how the endowment can help improve and support residents throughout the county.
“This is something that is for all of the citizens and I think it’s one of the most important things that we have in our community and we have an unprecedented opportunity in our community to solve for these persistent issues,” Winslow said.
One question asked was about whether the endowment could help other counties and areas in the Cape Fear region, but Winslow said the organization’s founding documents only allow them to do work in New Hanover County.
She also wants to make it clear that the Endowment is not meant to replace or help cover the cost of anything the county government wants to do.
“We have prioritized as we were looking at some of the root issues within the community. So again, not, we’re not the backstop for government, we’re looking to be more of an enrichment, but we are looking to solve some of these issues.”
The meeting also came just a day after the Endowment established a new $2 million Emergency Recovery Grant Reserve.
The grant will help set aside funds to be used for New Hanover County residents in the event of a major crisis.
