Funding to support UNC programs to strengthen local governments across the state
SECU Foundation presents check to UNC Department of Government
RALEIGH, N.C., July 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The SECU Foundation has announced new support for Lead for North Carolina (LFNC), a graduate fellowship program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Government. The $1 million grant will enable the Foundation to be the lead funder to place up to 150 LFNC SECU Fellows into paid local government fellowship positions over five years.
Lead for North Carolina marks the Foundation's first foray into funding graduate education, helping launch a pilot program at the University of North Carolina School of Public Administration in 2019. The program aims to strengthen local government, support communities, and develop a new generation of public servants by recruiting, training, and placing promising young leaders in fellowships. The Foundation's grant will help ensure the program's growth and double the more than 100 young leaders placed in high-impact LFNC fellowships to date at 90 organizations.
“Lead for North Carolina is a fantastic program, and we are thrilled to support the UNC School of Government's efforts through our grant,” said SECU Foundation Trustee Mona Moon. “LFNC SECU Fellows are passionate about public service and committed to improving the work of local government and the communities they serve. LFNC builds on the Foundation's SECU Public Service Internship Program and represents a fantastic opportunity for anyone considering a career in public service.”
“Like the SECU Foundation's 'power of a dollar' model, Lead for NC Fellows are working together to create positive change in North Carolina,” said Dylan Russell, executive director of LFNC. “From 125 new partnerships to securing over $100 million in grant funding, county by county, town by town, fellow by fellow, these young professionals are actively building local government capacity, and together we are building North Carolina's next class of civic leaders. Our state is better because of their work and the SECU Foundation's investment in this program.”
aAbout SECU and the SECU Foundation
SECU is a member-owned, federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) nonprofit financial cooperative that has been providing consumer financial services to North Carolina employees and their families for 87 years. SECU is the second largest credit union in the United States with $56 billion in assets. It serves more than 2.8 million members through 275 branches, more than 1,100 ATMs, member service support by phone, www.ncsecu.org, and the SECU mobile app. The SECU Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization supported by contributions from SECU members that promotes the development of communities in North Carolina through impactful projects primarily in the areas of housing, education, health care, and human services. Since 2004, the SECU Foundation has provided funding totaling more than $258 million to initiatives that benefit residents throughout North Carolina.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cd252580-b8ac-4d48-87a7-97794110d292
