During a press conference on May 28, The Endowment announced jointly with New Hanover County Government, NC, and New Hanover County Schools, a major philanthropic investment to support a comprehensive, countywide school improvement and capital modernization plan that will be implemented over the next decade in New Hanover County.
The Endowment is pleased to share that it will commit up to $116 million over ten years to help ensure students across the county learn in safe, modern, and future-ready schools.
Remarks were shared by Sophie Dagenais, President and CEO of The Endowment; Shannon Winslow, Board Chair of The Endowment; Chris Coudriet, New Hanover County Manager; Dr. Christopher Barnes, New Hanover County Schools Superintendent; and Leanne Pierce, Chair of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. Their comments highlighted the importance of partnership and investment in our community.
At The Endowment, we are grateful for the collaboration, leadership, and shared commitment demonstrated across the New Hanover community in making this possible.
We are especially thankful to the New Hanover community for its continued support and belief in this work and its impact on New Hanover County students and families.
Read the announcement here: https://theendowment.org/landmarkgrant/
Sophie Dagenais’ remarks:
Good morning and welcome elected officials, educators, Endowment board members and community advisory council members, colleagues, community leaders, and media.
On behalf of The Endowment, I am proud to announce a proposed grant of up to $116 million over ten years to support the County’s $320 million plan to construct or renovate educational facilities that will serve students and families for generations to come.
Today marks more than the announcement of a grant. We look forward to investing in the future of New Hanover County and the environments where learning and community life take shape every day.
This investment goes beyond bricks and mortar. It is about creating environments more conducive to teaching and learning, strengthening neighborhood vitality, and ensuring that young people have spaces that reflect their potential. Schools are among the most important civic institutions in any community. They are places where education happens, but also where relationships are formed, families gather, and neighborhoods find identity and connection. When we invest in schools, we are investing in public health, workforce development, economic resilience, and the long-term well-being of our county.
The physical condition of a school also communicates something powerful to children about whether their community believes in them. Modern, welcoming spaces help create conditions for confidence, belonging, and achievement.
And, by helping to contain the overall costs of school construction and mitigating the pressure on taxpayers, we are also directly supporting our mission of promoting the economic success and stability of families across New Hanover County.
To be sure, The Endowment’s investment is contingent on the County’s ability to develop and secure a plan of finance for this ambitious schools initiative. Assuming the County secures funding, and this initiative moves forward, the Endowment will proudly join all of New Hanover County in supporting this important effort.
County Manager, County Commissioners, Dr. Barnes, our shared investment will be an expression of belief: belief in young people, belief in public education, and belief that communities grow stronger when we create places where people can learn, gather, and thrive together.
Shannon Winslow’s remarks:
Thank you Madam Chair, Commissioner Pierce.
Good morning, everyone! I’ll be brief so as not to repeat what has already been said so clearly by our CEO and partners.
Today is a great day for New Hanover County, and The Endowment is proud to be a part of it.
On behalf of the Board, I want to express our deep appreciation to the County and the District for their statements of confidence in people, in place, and in what is possible when we are aligned.
I want to acknowledge the educators, administrators, and public partners who do the daily work of making our schools function and serve students well. Capital investments like the one announced today only succeed when matched by strong operational leadership and a shared commitment to excellence.
What we are beginning here is a long-term effort. The buildings that are renovated and constructed will outlast all of us in this room, and that is exactly the point. These are generational investments meant to shape opportunity for children we will never meet, but who will benefit from decisions made with care and intention this year.
As Board Chair, I am particularly grateful that this work is being done in a spirit of partnership not as isolated actors, but as a community choosing to move forward together with purpose and continued commitment to our kids and families and our schools and our community.
