SANFORD - The Central Carolina Community College Foundation has received four grants from the North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Arts Program supporting the college's Academic and Cultural Enrichment Series (ACES) and Student Activities Programming.

The Harnett County Government awarded two grants for programs in Harnett County -- a Grassroots Arts Program grant of $5,650 to fund a series of arts events celebrating Black history and Black artists and an ARPA Grassroots grant of $1,500 to fund a lecture and meet and greet with Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist Jose Galvez.

The Lee County Arts Council also awarded two grants for programs in Lee County -- a Grassroots grant of $2,500 to fund a performance by Flamenco Carolina at International Culture Night and an ARPA Grassroots grant of $2,000 to fund student and community painting classes highlighting Asian and Pacific Islander heritage.

The North Carolina Arts Council is a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

"Central Carolina Community College has both the opportunity and responsibility to be an artistic and cultural agent in our service area. I am proud of the cross-department collaboration that secured multiple North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Arts grants for 2023," said Bianka Rhodes Stumpf, CCCC Academic & Cultural Enrichment Series Coordinator. "Through this generous funding, CCCC will be able to offer students and residents meaningful performances and programs free of charge. Our work to offer music, theatre, dance, and art experiences answers perfectly the N.C. Community College System's charge to 'improve the lives and well-being of N.C. citizens.'"

Katy Jones, CCCC Student Activities Coordinator, adds: "I am so thankful for the opportunity to partner with the ACES program to bring co-curricular education to the students. These grants allow our students to experience history, culture, and art in ways they may not have been able to outside the classroom before. Also, these events allow our students to meet, interact, and learn from our community -- helping prepare them to be better community members."

The CCCC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization affiliated with, but independent of, the college. It receives donations of money and equipment on behalf of CCCC and uses them to promote the educational mission of the college and assist students through scholarships and grants.

"We are grateful for the support of our local Arts Councils," said Dr. Emily C. Hare, Executive Director of the CCCC Foundation. "This funding helps us branch out and educate our students in ways outside of the traditional classroom. Our students benefit tremendously from these experiences and we are thankful we are able to provide them thanks to the Arts Councils."

For information on giving to the CCCC Foundation, contact Dr. Emily C. Hare, Executive Director of the CCCC Foundation, 919-718-7230, or ehare@cccc.edu.