KANNAPOLIS — Vulcan Materials Company, Carolinas Healthcare System Healthworks, North Carolina Petroleum & Convenience Marketers and Food Lion were recently recognized at a Rowan-Cabarrus Community College board of trustees meeting for their in-kind donations.

Vulcan Materials Company’s donation of washed stone will allow the college to refurbish and expand its existing walking trail located at the school’s north campus to better support its health and wellness efforts. Vulcan has been a proponent of the college and contributed to the original construction of the walking trail in 2013.

“We appreciate Vulcan Materials Company and their commitment to support wellness at the college,” said Dr. Carol S. Spalding, president of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. “The in-kind donation, contributed to the RCCC Foundation in support of the ‘Building a More Prosperous Community Major Gifts Campaign’ and The Leon Levine Foundation Challenge Grant, will allow the college to expand its efforts in making the north campus a healthier place to work.”

Carolinas HealthCare System Healthworks recently donated time and resources to train Rowan-Cabarrus employees in the area of mental health first aid. Mental health first aid is designed to help trainees recognize, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance abuse disorders. The training helps develop skills to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be experiencing a form of mental crisis.

“We are grateful to Carolinas HealthCare System Healthworks for providing this important training which has helped the college become more knowledgeable about mental health first aid,” said Spalding.

Additionally, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College prides itself in developing graduates who are workforce ready, and with two recent donations from North Carolina Petroleum & Convenience Marketers and Food Lion, the college can continue to achieve that mission.

“Industry-recognized equipment is critical to the success of our programs and our graduates,” said Spalding. “Students who are trained to operate equipment that an employer uses are much more likely to be successful in the workplace and in their careers.”

It is critical that students have access to pertinent equipment for training purposes to ensure that they are more marketable and employable.

“Educating skilled technicians and entrepreneurs is a critical part of the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College mission, and North Carolina Petroleum & Convenience Marketers and Food Lion are supporting this important effort,” said Spalding.

Raleigh-based North Carolina Petroleum & Convenience Marketers donated a Thermo Pride oil furnace. The furnace, a product of a leading heating and cooling equipment company, will be used in the college’s air conditioning, heating and refrigeration program.

“The AHR program feels privileged to have received such a generous donation of the Thermo Pride furnace from the NC Petroleum & Convenience Marketers,” said Joe Christie, chairman of the college’s Construction Technology program. “The furnace will be a great addition to our AHR program. It will allow students to better understand how modern oil furnaces are being constructed, operated and repaired, thus adding to their skills as they search for employment opportunities in the HVAC field.”

The college also received an in-kind donation from national grocery store company Food Lion, headquartered in Salisbury, of five pharmacy scales. The scales will be used by the college’s pharmacy technician program.

“We are so appreciative of Food Lion for their donation,” said Jan Corriher-Smith, program manager of training services at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. “The scales will allow us to continue delivering hands-on training on real-world equipment to our students.”

“Donations like these are very important to Rowan-Cabarrus, and the college’s foundation is proud to partner with corporations to ensure that the college’s programs have adequate equipment investments. Working with industry partners, we have assessed our needs and developed a case for support to seek private and philanthropic donations,” said Carla Howell, chief officer of foundation, governance and public relations at the college.

Strengthening the “fundraising muscle” of the college’s foundation is not only important for the immediate future, but also for the long-term vitality of the college and the tens of thousands of students it serves each year.

The Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Foundation provides financial assistance to the students and programs of Rowan-Cabarrus. The foundation furthers the mission of the college by creating giving opportunities that expand College financial resources and develop sustainable programming for long-term fiscal stability. Every gift to Rowan-Cabarrus, no matter the size, makes a difference. There is always an extraordinary need for unrestricted funds which provide the college with the flexibility to meet its highest priorities and most urgent needs.

The Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Foundation welcomes in-kind donations, which help the college keep pace with changing technology and equipment needs and meet the demands of increased enrollment.

Gifts in kind must:

• fulfill a stated need of one or more college departments, and
• be approved by the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Foundation.

For more information about Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, visit www.rccc.edu or call 704-216-7222. The college is currently accepting applications for the fall 2016 term. Fall classes begin on August 15, 2016.