WILSON, N.C. — December 20, 2024 — Barton College’s campus community will reap the benefits of recently received grants equaling $500,000 from the Cannon Charitable Interests. A $300,000 grant from the Charles A. Cannon Charitable Trusts will underwrite the renovation of Hardy Alumni Hall’s main level. A second grant for $200,000 from the Cannon Foundation will be used for a variety of capital improvements and renovations on campus, including projects for Mary Irwin Belk Hall, Hardy Center, Hackney Hall, Wenger Hall, and the Stephenson Apartments.
“We are grateful for our relationship with the Cannon Charitable Interests,” said Dr. Douglas N. Searcy, president of Barton College. “Over the years, the Cannon Family have made significant investments in higher education across the state. We’re proud to partner with this distinguished foundation to enhance the facilities on our campus and advance the student experience.”
The $300,000 grant from the Charles A Cannon Charitable Trusts will support a face-lift for Hardy Alumni Hall, with distinctive renovations and refurbishments in the main Lecture/Reception Room. The work will include but not be limited to door and window replacements, new lighting fixtures, new paint, new carpet, and technology updates. The adjacent Board of Trustees Room will also receive new lighting, paint, and carpet, as well as the addition of technology to this vital meeting space.
Built in 1936 and recognized as the second oldest building on campus, Hardy Alumni Hall is used with great frequency throughout the year as a host site for a variety of campus and community events. Renovations for both meeting spaces on the main level of this facility will allow the College to accommodate more internal and external meeting and event opportunities in the years ahead. The work in Hardy Alumni Hall is currently underway, with an expected completion at the beginning of the spring semester.
The $200,000 Cannon Foundation grant will provide funding to complete a variety of campus projects, including the purchase and replacement of HVAC units, roof replacements, and replacement of the fire panel in Harper Hall.
“Every corner of Barton College’s campus tells a story — a story of learning, growth, and community,” noted Kelly Taranto, vice president for institutional advancement. “The Cannon Charitable Interests shares a part of our story, and this gift is their continued generosity that will transform key spaces on campus.”
The Cannon Foundation, established in 1943 by Charles A. Cannon, president and CEO of Cannon Mills Company, continues its founder’s philanthropic legacy by funding capital and equipment projects for organizations across his native state of North Carolina. Upon Mr. Cannon’s death in 1971, the Charles A. Cannon Charitable Trusts were also established to carry on the works in which he was interested during his lifetime. Today, the Cannon Foundation and the Charles A. Cannon Charitable Trusts continue his legacy of giving across his beloved state.
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