Press
SECU members help celebrate 4-H Heritage with Grant for SECU 4-H Learning Center
RALEIGH, NC (February 20, 2015) — Camp Millstone in Ellerbe, North Carolina was the site of a recent groundbreaking ceremony for the SECU 4-H Learning Center – a new state-of-the-art facility that will mark a significant milestone in North Carolina’s 4-H history. The extreme cold weather didn’t hinder the large crowd of 4-H leaders and supporters, including SECU Foundation officials and State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) volunteers and staff, who gathered for the celebration and formal presentation of SECU Foundation’s $750,000 grant for the 3,500 square foot multi-use Center. On behalf of Credit Union members who fund the Foundation, SECU Foundation Board Chair McKinley Wooten presented a check to Dean Richard Linton for the Learning Center, an initiative in partnership with the North Carolina 4-H Foundation and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.
“This building marks a new era for Millstone and North Carolina 4-H Camps and will become the crowning jewel in a family of buildings that will positively impact our State’s youth, families and citizens, offering a variety of new programs and opportunities,” said Linton, Dean of North Carolina State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Science. “We want to thank SECU members and the Foundation for supporting our vision and the bright future of North Carolina’s 4-H Youth Program and 4-H Camps.”
The Learning Center will provide 4-H with the ability to strengthen and expand year-round education programs for a variety of audiences, including summer 4-H outdoor programs and specialty camp sessions, day-trips and overnight retreats for K-12th grade school groups from the surrounding 34 counties. The facility will offer reserved areas for historical displays and artifacts, a conference room and two meeting/classrooms – all designed to preserve and celebrate the collective heritage and contributions of 4-H’s past, present and future.
McKinley Wooten stated, “SECU members are long-term supporters of education and we are proud to assist with this effort – one that will further enhance Millstone 4-H Camp and serve as a valuable teaching resource for educators, students and communities all across North Carolina. 4-H has an excellent reputation for its wonderful youth education and development programs, and its mission aligns very well with SECU Foundation’s, making it a great partnership. We look forward to celebrating the opening of the SECU 4-H Learning Center!”
About SECU and the SECU Foundation
A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, SECU has been providing employees of the State of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for 77 years. The Credit Union also offers a diversified line of financial advisory services including retirement and education planning, tax preparation, insurance, trusts, estate planning and investments through its partners and affiliated entities. SECU serves nearly 2 million members through 254 branch offices, 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Contact Centers and a website, www.ncsecu.org. The SECU Foundation, a 501c (3) charitable organization funded solely by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare and human services.