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Featured Photo: First Citizens Bank presents a $10,000 check to the Educational Foundation of Blue Ridge Community College on behalf of the Robert P. Holding Foundation. (Photo by: Rich Keen)
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In line with an ongoing commitment to community college education and to assist with Hurricane Helene relief efforts, members of First Citizens Bank delivered a generous $10,000 donation this week to the Educational Foundation of Blue Ridge Community College.
The gift was presented on Dec. 17 on behalf of the Robert P. Holding Foundation, an organization created to honor the memory of the former First Citizens’ president and chairman, a man instrumental to the bank’s founding. Since 1955, the Robert P. Holding Foundation has given millions of dollars to support the important work of North Carolina’s higher education and healthcare institutions.
Nicola Barksdale, First Citizens senior vice president and manager of business and banking for the Western Carolina area, explained that delivering the gift had special meaning for her.
“It’s incredibly personal to give back to the community college where I started my educational career,” she explained. “The way that Blue Ridge stepped up to provide disaster relief, and for us to be able to offer a small portion of funds to support the College in their efforts, that’s what community is all about. First Citizens really strives to be a philanthropist in the community and to give back in the communities that we serve.”
First Citizens Bank administrators presented the gift to Blue Ridge leaders in the Patton Building of the Henderson County Campus. Barksdale joined Senior Vice President and Manager of Charitable and Philanthropic Services Hank Dunbar, Vice President in Business Banking and Blue Ridge Trustee Vivian Bolaños, and Vice President and Institutional Business Development Officer Emily Jones, CFP. Dunbar traveled from Raleigh to help personally deliver the gift.
“This generous donation from the Robert P. Holding Foundation exemplifies the power of community partnerships in creating meaningful change,” said Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood, president of Blue Ridge Community College. “We are deeply grateful for their support of our students and their recognition of the critical role education plays in both hurricane relief and long-term community recovery. Together, we are helping to build brighter futures and a stronger workforce for our state and region.”
Dunbar underscored the value of the strong relationships between the Holding family, First Citizens Bank and Blue Ridge Community College.
“First Citizens Bank and the Robert P. Holding Foundation are big supporters of the community college system all across the state of North Carolina,” said Dunbar. “When the hurricane affected the western part of the state, the Holding Foundation wanted to do something to help the community colleges in Western North Carolina.”
“We extend our deepest gratitude to the Robert P. Holding Foundation and our friends at First Citizens as they stand with us when needed most,” added Trina Stokes, executive director of Blue Ridge’s Educational Foundation. “Together, we are fostering hope and resilience in our students, staff and faculty.”