Belk Donates $30,000 and 10,000 Masks to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Ahead of 2020-21 School Year
“We are tremendously grateful for Belk’s generous contribution to our CMS COVID-19 Relief Fund and for the donation of masks to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools,” said Sonja Gantt, executive director of CMS Foundation. “This donation from one of our community’s most iconic retailers will support critical learning needs and safety practices as we continue to navigate the pandemic.”

Charlotte, N.C., August 14, 2020 —Belk today announced a $25,000 donation to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund, providing students with the technology they need to stay connected as remote learning is set to begin next week. The funding will provide internet hotspots and prepaid internet service to students without home connectivity, a critical need for families as schools within CMS operate remotely.

Belk associates from the corporate office, located in Charlotte, contributed an additional $5,000 to the CMS Foundation.

Belk’s funding is part of Project Hometown, the retailer’s community strengthening initiative supporting charities and organizations in Charlotte. One of Project Hometown’s primary focuses is to improve social and economic mobility for children in Charlotte through access to education and learning resources. A 2014 Harvard and University of California Berkeley study revealed that Charlotte ranked 50 out of 50 in social mobility among large cities, citing that a child born into poverty in Charlotte has only a one in four chance to move out of poverty in their lifetime.

“COVID-19 has added layers of complexity and stress to our lives, and the pandemic is disproportionately impacting low income families. Without reliable internet access and technology, the achievement gap that already exists for the underprivileged in our community will intensify,” said Lisa Harper, CEO at Belk. “We are committed to help lift these barriers that are straining families, starting right here in Charlotte.”

In addition to Belk’s financial contributions, Belk will gift 10,000 masks to CMS for educators, administrators and students.

“We are tremendously grateful for Belk’s generous contribution to our CMS COVID-19 Relief Fund and for the donation of masks to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools,” said Sonja Gantt, executive director of CMS Foundation. “This donation from one of our community’s most iconic retailers will support critical learning needs and safety practices as we continue to navigate the pandemic.”

About Belk

Charlotte-based Belk, Inc., a privately owned department store, opened its first store in 1888, beginning a legacy of selling great products at great prices, treating customers like family and giving back to the community. Today, Belk serves customers at nearly 300 Belk stores in 16 Southeastern states, at belk.com and through the mobile app. For over 130 years, Belk has proudly put customers and community at the center of what they do, supporting local charities, organizations and families when they need it most.

For more information visit https://newsroom.belk.com/

To shop, find your local store at https://www.belk.com/stores/, visit belk.com or download the Belk app in Google Play or Apple Store.

For further information: Media Contacts: Jenny Anderson, Belk 571-264-2606 Jennifer_Anderson@belk.com
Media Contact

Jessica Rohlik
Senior Manager, Public Relations
Belk, Inc.
Jessica_Rohlik@belk.com

 

 

 

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