Placemaking and Child Nutrition in New Hanover County
In partnership with the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County, The Endowment has provisionally approved a $7,750,000 grant to the City of Wilmington to support the acquisition of land for conservation and activation as a community-centered park. The award is contingent on the satisfaction of conditions, including $1 million investments by both the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County, as well as procedural approvals by the Wilmington City Council on February 3 and the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners on February 16.
The Endowment’s provisional grant to the City of Wilmington will help conserve green space in New Hanover County, expand outdoor recreation, and create community gathering spaces for all residents. Additional details, including the project’s urgency and alignment with the City’s and County’s long-term plans, will be announced jointly in the coming weeks if the parties reach agreement and receive the requisite approvals from their governing bodies.
Additionally, The Endowment has approved a $75,000 grant commitment to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to support the implementation of the 2026 SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) program for eligible children across the state, including in New Hanover County this summer. The program is estimated to serve more than 15,000 children in New Hanover County this summer and deliver nearly $1.85 million in food benefits, helping to ensure children return to school healthy, focused, and ready to learn.
The Endowment’s commitment to the SUN Bucks program completes the philanthropic match required for the State to unlock more than $125 million in federal support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for statewide summer nutrition benefits. The Endowment joins other North Carolina philanthropic partners, including the Duke Endowment, Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina Foundation, Dogwood Health Trust, Bryson Foundation, and AJ Fletcher Foundation in advancing this effort, with an investment specifically sized to meet the need in New Hanover County and to help secure transformative, statewide benefits for children across North Carolina this summer.
“As we begin a new year, these represent our first grant commitments, setting the tone for 2026, and reflecting The Endowment’s readiness to act when the moment is right and to align with public-sector partners when their infrastructure and authority create opportunities for greater impact,” said Sophie Dagenais, Interim President and CEO of The Endowment. “The planned investments in land conservation and child nutrition are guided by our strategic framework and aligned with our prioritized objectives in health, education, and community development, strengthening our community today while safeguarding opportunity for future generations.”
About The Endowment
The Endowment’s mission is to improve the health, education, safety, and economic opportunity of every person in New Hanover County.
For more about The Endowment and to stay informed about upcoming grant opportunities, visit www.theendowment.org.
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