The AC Phoenix
December 2002
Page 21
Community Icons Join Forces
M & F Bank & NC Mntnal Insnrance Company
Show Commitment to Delta Fine Arts
By Paula McCoy
Two minority-owned businesses in the East Winston community came together
to provide a gift to the Delta Fine Arts Center. Mechanics and Farmers Bank and
North Carolina Mutual insurance Company gifted $5000 to the center to help them
reach their first milestone of a $1 million dollar fundraising campaign that began
December 2001, Their first milestone of $325,000 enabled the art center to pur
chase the ABC store on New Walkertown Road. Two other phases will upfit the
building ($415,000) and provide an endowment and general operating funds
($260,000). “Receiving support from these two businesses of long-standing in the
community has been significant,” says Simona Allen, center volunteer and board
member; “each contribution helped us reach our ultimate goal.”
“The Delta Fine Arts Center is a landmark in the community,” says Evelyn Acree,
city executive for Mechanics & Farmers Bank. “Keeping this center in East
Winston is important for all of us.” The ABC Store facility would provide a new
location for the center and expand the existing capacity of the eighty-year old cot
tage facility that the center has existed in for twenty years. “We own few institu
tions,” says Acree, “particularly those that house our art, culture and history. We
must do whatever we can to preserve them and leave a legacy for our youth, our
future.”
Ben Ruffin, chairman of Mechanics & Farmer and a board member for twenty-
five years, played an instrumental role in bringing the two institutions together.
“Anyplace that houses our history in a positive way we ought to do whatever we
can to maintain and support them,” he says. Ruffin is also a five-year board mem
ber of NC Mutual Insurance Company. “Mechanics and Farmers Bank and NC
Mutual have been two institutions that have supported black causes and the whole
community throughout their long history; this was a natural thing for them to do,”
says Ruffin.
The Delta Fine Arts Center, which has always impressed residents with their
exhibits and with the community usage of the facility, will be able to provide more
exhibit space and community room for classes. “Our new facility will seat up to 50
people and expand our exhibit capacity to three times more than our existing facil
ity,” says Dianna Caesar, Executive Director of the center and widow of actor
Adolph Caesar.
Since its founding in 1972, non-profit Winston-Salem Delta Fine Arts, Inc., has pro
vided our area with quality educational and cultural programming. Delta’s goal is to
stimulate community interest and pride in American arts and humanities, empha
sizing the contributions of African Americans. In 1982, the organization opened
The Delta Arts Center, where programs are offered in the visual arts, music, litera
ture, drama, history, and folk arts. Offerings include year-round visual arts and his
torical exhibitions, visiting artist programs, workshops, lectures, films, perfor
mances, and special projects.
CONGRATULATIONS
TO
PARKLAND HIGH
AND ALL OF OUR
SCHOOL FOR
ANOTHER
GREAT YEAR!
CONGRATULATIONS
PARKLANO RIGR
SCROOL
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