The Belk Foundation recently awarded Johnson C. Smith University $500,000 to enhance its Belk Retail Management Endowed Scholars Program.

Katie B. Morris, chair of The Belk Foundation board of directors, said, "Supporting Johnson C. Smith University and other schools and educational programs throughout the southeast is a proud legacy of The Belk Foundation, and we're pleased to continue our focus on education with the awarding of this grant. Johnson C. Smith is an outstanding university and we're excited to see how Dr. Ron Carter's leadership will take the institution to an even higher level."

The $500,000 grant to JCSU will endow annual scholarships for at least four students in the business major who show an interest in retail management or marketing. Those students will be named and awarded $2,500 scholarships in spring 2010. Johnson C. Smith University President Dr. Ronald Carter said he is excited about the Belk Retail Management Endowed Scholars Program for a couple of reasons. "One, it will now help us develop a very vibrant and attractive retail management concentration. Already, faculty in the Business Administration area is thinking through curricular changes that will be very innovative in helping us to develop a first-class program. Second, we can help students who have a strong interest in retail management with this scholarship. They will be able to focus and have an opportunity to have on their resume a scholarship that indicates that they have achieved in their area of retail management. This is a win-win situation."

In addition to the scholarships, a partnership with Belk, Inc. will match Belk Scholars with a Belk employee mentor in Belk's Black Employee Resource Group and include the Scholars in professional development opportunities exclusive to Belk. Adam Orvos, executive vice president of human resources at Belk, Inc. and member of Johnson C. Smith's Business Advisory Board, said "This scholarship will provide needed financial support to high-achieving students and will be a wonderful opportunity for our employees to engage with students to provide real-world guidance and experience." JCSU's Business Administration and Economics Department is planning curriculum changes to its current Retail Management concentration that will include new classes and online courses in summer 2011. The program is envisioned as a niche venture that will increase student awareness of opportunities in the retail industry, attract students to the Retail Management concentration, establish a robust curriculum in retail management, and facilitate student placement in responsible positions in the retail industry.

About The Belk Foundation

The Belk Foundation is a private, family foundation founded in 1928. Over the past 10 years, it has awarded grants totaling more than $33 million to non-profit organizations and causes benefiting communities in a 16-state region stretching from Texas to Maryland. The mission of The Belk Foundation is to support deserving educational, health and youth organizations located in the communities where Belk associates live and work. For more information about The Belk Foundation, contact: Johanna Anderson, 704-426-8322 or Johanna_Anderson@belk.com.