Newspapers / Philanthropy Journal of North … / Jan. 1, 1997, edition 1 / Page 1
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January 1997 VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5/ $5.00 A nonprofit newspaper for the nonprofit community Look for os on the World WidO Web at bttp;/?phifantHfOpy^iourrjal.org OF NORTH CAROLINA Reform or revolution? State braces for impact of charter schools The state's new charter school program has the potential to sig nificantly expand North Carolina’s nonprofit sector. But it is too soon to tell whether the program will shake up or merely supplement the public school system. By Barbara Solow North Carolina’s new charter school program is being hailed as a middle ground for education reform ers from all points on the political spectrum. The state’s new charter school law - which allows creation of up to 100 “deregulated public schools’’ annually - has sparked the interest of groups ranging from churches and arts organizations to existing private schools. The state Department of Public Instruction has logged 60 applica tions for charter schools in 32 of North Carolina’s 100 counties (see EDUCATION accompanying list on page 9). Of those, 11 came from existing private schools and one was from an existing public school. The state Board of Education will finish re\'iewing the applications by March and the first schools could open in July Among the proposed new schools are a middle school in Raleigh that will use the planned Exploris chil dren’s museum as a teaching labora- Fast break Pro stars a tough catch for fundraisers Many former North Carolina college ath letes are turning pro - and while their careers may generate enormous riches, a sense of philanthropy to their old colleges doesn’t often come as part of the deal, development leaders say. By Stephanie Greer When student athletes turn professional, they often make it big, and North Carolina col leges and universities have seen their fair share of football and basketball stars strike it rich. The huge salaries that some of these stars command, however, have not generated a big payoff for the schools that launched them. Just last October, for example, Chicago Bulls SPORTS superstar Michael Jordan announced a $1 mil lion gift to the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his alma mater. The school has produced a legion of pro bas ketball stars, such as James Worthy and Jerry Stackhouse, and pro football standouts, such as Lawrence Taylor and Natrone Means. Yet Jordan’s gift was the largest gift ever to the school by a pro athlete. Indeed, the largest gift previously had been S100,(X)0 to the School of Social Work by pro football player Harris Barton. “I think that generally across the country, student athletes are not the most responsive group,” says Cook Griffin, executive director of UNC-CH alumnus Michael Jordan faces Muggsy Bogues, a Wake Forest University standout and a member of the Charlotte Hornets. the Deacon Club at Wake Forest University. Griffin and development officers at UNC-CH and Duke University say giving from student ath letes who turn pro follows no consistent pattern: Some athletes, they say, give generously, but many do not give at all, “This is not the rule for all of them.” Griffin says. “We have some that understand they were given an opportunity to get an education, take part in college athletics. [But] a lot of them feel like, T don’t owe the university anything, I helped put people in the stands or the basket ball facility:’” Matt Kupec, vice ciianceiior for university advancement at UNC-CH - and a former star quarterback at the school - says it’s unfair to focus on former student athletes. “In defense of athletes, a lot of this money is new money,” Kupec says. “These $800 million contracts haven’t been given over a long period. The pay scales have accelerated so much over the past few years, it’s made athletes a target on the radar screen.” With salaries for professional stars sky rocketing in recent years, pro players often see more money in a few contract signings than most families see in their lifetimes. Jordan this year signed the largest contract in the history of professional sports: a reported $25 million for one season, which does not include his multitude of endorsement deals - such as Nike, Rayovac, Hanes - and proceeds from his new movie, “Space Jam.” Shaquille O’Neal of the L.A. Lakers - a prod uct of Louisiana State University - comes the Look for ATHLETES, page 22 Grammatical intent Cone estate’s millions hinge on punctuation By Stephanie Greer Greensboro Martha A. Cone wanted to give $30 million of her $61 million estate to the Cemala Foundation, a Greensboro charity she established with her husband, Ceasar. Her trust agreement and will, however, made it unclear whether the foundation would receive the entire $30 million before estate taxes - or whether $8 million of that amount would be split between members of her family and the Internal Revenue Service. Famiiy members believed Mrs. Cone had wanted the foundation to ESTATE PLANNING get the entire $30 million - even though their interpretation would cost them about $4 million. To be sure, they asked a court to interpret the language in the trust agreement. In November, a judge agreed with the family: The grammar and punctu ation in the agreement indicated that Mrs. Cone had wanted $30 million to be distributed to the Cemala Foundation and $13 million to her family - all before taxes. Look for ESTATES, page 19 tory’ on global issues; the Right Step Academy in Pitt County that wiU offer a curriculum tailored for at “at-risk” and African-American students; and the Grandfather Academy in Avery County that will provide programs for abused and neglected children or those with special educational needs. TAR HEEL EXPERIMENT Unlike charter school laws in other states - which often have strict limits on chartering agencies - North Look for SCHOOLS, page 21 In flux Enviroiiinent Bill Holman new leaders With three state environmental leaders departing their jobs, North Carolina environmental ists wonder who wili fiil the gaps. B\' Stephanie Greer Three key players in the state’s environmental movement are chang ing jobs, creating a shakeup that has environmentalists facing an uncertain political landscape. In one of the biggest surprises to envi- I ronmentalists, lob byist Bill Holman I wdll be dropping the multiple clients he has represented in the legislature for 18 years to take a new government affairs position at The Nature Conservancv In another move, Melinda Taylor has left her position as director of the North Carolina Environmental Defense Fund. Taylor moved to Texas because of a job opportunity there for her husband and has joined the staff of the Defense Fund’s Texas branch. Jane Preyer, deputy director of the group’s North Carolina office, and Doug Rader, its senior scientist, are serving as interim co-directors. And in yet another major move that had been rumored, Steve Levitas is leaving his post as deputy director of the state Department of the [ Environment, Health and Natural Resources. Levitas, who was Taylor’s predecessor at the Environmental Defense Fund, will take a job in the Raleigh office of Greensboro-based law firm Brooks Pierce McLandon Humphrey and Leonard. All three - Holman, Taylor and Levitas - have been powerful fixtures in the state’s environmental move ment, leaving many nonprofit ieaders to wonder about its future direction. Keith Burwell, executive director of the Emironmental Federation of North Carolina, says that the moves by Levitas and Taylor came as no sur prise. Levitas’ departure in a chang- Look for ENVIRONMENT, page 22 Steve Levitas M Grants & Gifts 16 In January 16 Job Opportunities 20 Opinion 10 People 17 Professional Services...!8 \: NONPROHIS 1 FOUNDATIONS VOLlfNfrCSRS ' 1 CORPORATE GIVING Welfare experiments Henry Carter retires Name game Charge for hunger Buncombe County After two decades as Volunteers tor the annual The American Express community leaders are join- President of the Winston- Jingle Ball in Raleigh had to Charge Against Hunger cam- ing hands to help welfare Salem Foundation, Henry cope with a radio station paign has netted close to recipients move into the Carter is retiring and will be starting a fundraiser with the $800,000 tor North Carolina workforce. • Page 4 replaced by the foundation's associate director tor donor services. same name. nonprofits in the past three years. • Page 6 • Page 8 • Page 12 I FUNDRAISING UNCG campaign The University of North Corolino at Greensboro hits the midway point in its lorgest-ever capital cam paign. 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Philanthropy Journal of North Carolina (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Jan. 1, 1997, edition 1
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