For Immediate Release, August 27, 1998

Rocky Mount, NC -- A group of 60 community and business leaders met at Wesleyan College Tuesday to kick off the efforts for the "17th Annual Day for Wesleyan," the community fund-raiser that will be held Tuesday, September 22. Members of the fund-raisers executive committee represent all segments of the community. "The strongest supporters of North Carolina Wesleyan College have always been the citizens of this area, who were also responsible for bringing the College to Rocky over 42 years ago," said Wesleyan President John White. "And in return, the College gives back to the community. Over 14,000 people attended events at the Dunn Center during the last year, but even if an area resident has never been on the campus, he or she still enjoys the positive economic benefits from having NC Wesleyan in our community. The money raised from this campaign comes back to the community more than twofold, in terms of the Colleges economic impact on the area."

This is the 17th year for the community fund-raising drive, which provides funds to assist with Wesleyans operating budget. "The campaigns in the last two years have each raised over $350,000. Our goal this year would be to meet or exceed that level," said Robert Beaman, co-chair, along with Celeste Pittman, for this years Day for Wesleyan effort. "The College is doing a great job of growing, continuing to offer a quality education, and being a financially sound business partner for the region, and we need to continue to support their efforts."

"The executive committee for the 17th Day for Wesleyan is as large as last years committee, and many members have returned from working on last years committee to continue their support of Wesleyan. They make advance personal calls, in preparation for the September 22nd fund-raiser," said co-chair Celeste Pittman. "Their enthusiastic support reflects the great commitment of the community to Wesleyan College."

NC Wesleyan history professor, Rick Watson, will lead the appeal for faculty and staff on campus. The College uses the funds to supplement general operating expenses for things such as library books, computers, scholarships, and classroom and teaching supplies.

Beaman, formerly the president of Stallings Oil Co., is currently starting two new companies. He is a partner in the Cornerstone Group, store design, and president of Renewal Resources, management development and training. Pittman is an active community volunteer who is currently also serving on the board of Futrell-Mauldin Community Foundation and on the steering committee for the Braswell Memorial Library capital campaign. They are joined by a strong group of Rocky Mount community leaders, including: Jean Almand, of Almands Drug Stores; Vincent Andracchio, of Guardian Corporation; Dick Barnhardt, of Barnhardt Properties Inc.; Jeff Batts, of Batts, Batts & Bell; Richard F. Bethune, of Equitable Life Assurance; Tom Betts, Jr., of Betts & Company Insurors; Bill Boddie, of Boddie-Noell Enterprises; Nick Boddie, of Boddie-Noell Enterprises; Mayo Boddie, Sr., of Boddie-Noell Enterprises; Julia Congleton-Bryant, member of Wesleyans Board of Trustees; Dr. Daniel Crocker, oncologist, Boice-Willis Clinic; Jim Dickens, of Jim Dickens Business Forms; Leon A. Dunn, Jr., Guardian Corporation; Brett Frantz, of First Citizens Bank; Dick Futrell, Jr., retired from Centura Bank; Dr. John D. Hartness, endodontist; Ann Lougee Herrick, Holiday Inn/Comfort Inn/Gateway; Sam Johnson, of Poyner & Spruill; Vel Johnson, last years co-chair along with husband Sam; Bill Kincheloe, of Wildwood Lamps/Bulluck Furniture; H. Kel Landis III, of Centura Bank; Trevor T. Lane, of Edgecombe Community College; Charlie Lemonds, of BB&T; Nancy Liipfert, of Nancy Liipfert Associates; Jeanne Locke; Tom Looney, Wheat First Butcher Singer; Bill Marshburn, of D.J. Rose & Son; Gloria Matthews, Matthews Rehabilitation Service; J. Claude Mayo, Jr., Mayo Simmon & Harris; Larry Miller, City Housing Authority; Anne B. Mosley, Wesleyan Trustee.; Dr. Greg Nelson, Rocky Mount Orthopedics; Joe Nelson, of Davenport Pontiac-Cadillac; Theo H. Pitt, Jr., senior partner, Community Financial Institutions Consulting; Dr. William B. Pittman, gastroenterologist, Boice-Willis Clinic; Don Raper, Jr., of Triangle Bank; Chuck Robbins, Jr., COECO; Richard Rose, of Poyner & Spruill; Nancy Simpson, Nancy Simpson Painters, Inc.; James M. "Fritz" Smith, Jr., Whitener Capital Management, Inc.; Linda Stallone, VP/Development, NC Wesleyan College; W. Doug Starr, Wheat First Butcher Singer; Betsy B. Strandberg, retired from Standard Insurance & Realty; Faye Strickland, Manpower; Roger G. Taylor, Roger G. Taylor and Associates Financial Services; Tim Taylor, of Southern Bank & Trust Co.; Dr. Lewis S. Thorp, retired physician and parttime with Guardian Care and Area L AHEC; Mahler Thorpe, Centura Bank; Barbara Valentine; McLain Wallace, of Battle, Winslow, Scott & Wiley, P.A.; J. Dewey Weaver, Jr., of D.J. Rose & Son; Wesleyan President John B. White; Guy Williams, Triangle Bank; Barden Winstead, Jr., of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.; and Dr. Robert Zipf, Jr., Nash Health Care Systems.

The 17^th Day For Wesleyan campaign will begin with a kick-off breakfast for the over 200 volunteers, Tuesday, September 22, in the campus cafeteria. During the day these volunteers will canvass the local community and personally contact some 1200 local businesses and individuals in Rocky Mount, and Nash and Edgecombe counties.

They will celebrate at the end of the day with complimentary taste treats from the catering menu of Sodexho Marriott Dining Services at 6 p.m., their donation to the Day For Wesleyan, and with a free concert in the Minges Auditorium by the Gregg Gelb Swing Band at 7:30 p.m. All volunteers and the general public are invited for these free festivities. Its the Colleges way of thanking the Day for Wesleyan volunteers and the whole community for their support, and a great way to wrap up the 17^th Day for Wesleyan. In addition, anyone interested in seeing the exciting changes taking place on campus can come early for guided tours at 5:00 and 5:30

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