The Duke Endowment celebrates a century of grantmaking and partnership with grantees in Western North Carolina

On Monday, August 26, 2024, The Duke Endowment hosted a centennial community celebration at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, N.C., to honor the work of its local grantees and partners from across Western North Carolina. When James Buchanan Duke established The Duke Endowment on December 11, 1924, he committed, through his Indenture of Trust, to nurture children, promote health, educate minds and enrich spirits in North Carolina and South Carolina. Since its inception, the Endowment has invested $4.8 billion across the Carolinas, with more than $249 million invested in Western North Carolina.

Biltmore Farms President and CEO John F.A.V. Cecil, who is also an Endowment Trustee, welcomed the nearly 180 guests, applauding their work and thanking them for all they are doing in their communities. Prior to learning of the Duke’s family history from Charles C. Lucas III, the Endowment’s Board Chair and a Duke family descendent, guests watched a video showcasing the Summer Literacy Initiative. Since 2012, the Endowment has been working with rural congregations in North Carolina to combat learning loss in their communities through evidence-informed summer literacy programs for rising first through third graders.

In speaking about the longevity and vision of Mr. Duke’s Indenture of Trust, Endowment President Rhett Mabry explained its relevance for a modern world. “Our responsibility is not merely to manage assets, but to be stewards of a legacy built on the principles of enriching lives and strengthening communities,” he said. “While Mr. Duke’s enumerated areas of focus remain remarkably relevant today, we know that specific challenges will need adaptive approaches to remain effective in today’s world. We are committed to meeting today’s challenges, even as we honor our founder’s mandate.”

In addition to representatives from The Duke Endowment, Brett Loftis, CEO of Crossnore Communities for Children, one of North Carolina’s largest and most innovative child welfare and behavioral health organizations, also spoke. Loftis’ remarks centered around the impact of partnerships, like the one with the Endowment, and how they help provide resources, including funding research and evidence-based programs. Loftis shared that Crossnore wouldn’t be where it is now without the willingness of the Endowment to invest in innovative ideas and take risks. With support from the Endowment, Crossnore built upon its trauma-focused model to establish The Center for Trauma Resilient Communities (CTRC) in 2018. This national model supports individuals, organizations and communities as they recognize the often unspoken long-term wounds of adversity and trauma. CTRC has trained nearly 10,000 people in 12 states to build trauma resilience so those people who are called to help can do so without being hurt in the process. “I am so thrilled to be able to partner with The Duke Endowment to be able to see the vision Mr. Duke had that is so aptly carried out now by the board and staff,” Loftis said.

On December 11, 2024, The Duke Endowment will mark its centennial anniversary, a milestone made possible thanks to the grantees and partners with whom we have worked to enrich lives and strengthen communities for generations of Carolinians. Throughout 2024, the Endowment will hold centennial celebrations across the Carolinas to spotlight the impact of its grantee partners. To learn more, visit 100years.dukeendowment.org.

About The Duke Endowment

Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits. Since its founding, it has distributed $4.8 billion in grants. The Endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but all are separate organizations.

On December 11, 2024, The Duke Endowment will mark its centennial anniversary, a milestone made possible thanks to the grantees and partners with whom they’ve worked to enrich lives and strengthen communities for generations of Carolinians. Throughout 2024, the Endowment will hold centennial celebrations across the Carolinas to spotlight the impact of its grantee partners. To learn more, visit 100years.dukeendowment.org.