[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H7590-H7591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE MEBANE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the floor and recognize the 
important work being done by the Mebane Charitable Foundation, 
headquartered in Mocksville, North Carolina.
  The foundation, which was established by former UNIFI CEO G. Allen 
Mebane IV, works to promote high-quality early childhood education 
opportunities for children in North Carolina and supports several 
nonprofit initiatives in Davie and Yadkin counties.
  The foundation awards private grants ranging from $500 to $1 million 
to a number of organizations such as communities and schools in Wilkey 
County, Davie County Partnership for Children, Davie County Schools, 
Big Brother Big Sister services, Habitat for Humanity, the Yadkin 4-H, 
Salem College, and many, many more.
  The foundation's founder, Allen Mebane, was inspired to become 
involved in strengthening education while he was operating a textile 
plant in the late 1960s. When the time came to hire the plant's 
workforce, he realized that many applicants were illiterate and unable 
to run the plant's machinery properly.
  Mr. Mebane knew something had to be done. Therefore, he encouraged 
his staff to improve their literacy by attending day or night classes 
at the plant. And as an added incentive, he paid them for doing so. Mr. 
Mebane has long understood that a strong education is vital in today's 
changing economy, especially as northwest North Carolina is evolving 
from an agricultural and manufacturing center to a high-tech area.
  We are not simply competing with our neighbors in Iredell or Forsyth 
counties, he explained to the Davie County Enterprise Record. We are 
competing with other countries. In Japan, children attend school year 
round. They are required to take algebra in the 9th grade, calculus in 
the 10th grade. That is our competition, he said.
  Mr. Mebane argues that we must strengthen technical education 
programs in order to remain competitive in today's economy. Alan Mebane 
started the Mebane Charitable Foundation because he wanted northwest 
North Carolina to remain well educated. ``An educated workforce is the 
biggest drawing card we have for bringing industry to Davie County, and 
we have to develop industry to grow the tax base and keep Davie 
students employed here,'' he said.
  The Mebane Charitable Foundation is taking a number of steps to 
improve educational opportunities for students in Davie and surrounding 
counties. Beginning in January 2003, it focused its grant-making on 
three projects.
  The first, an early childhood development program, is working to 
develop social, emotional, cognitive and physical development of all 
children, especially those through the third grade. This program seeks 
to lay a strong educational foundation early on so that children 
continue to be successful throughout their school years.
  The second project, a program for teacher-training and professional 
development, is establishing accountability goals for teachers and 
enhances

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their teaching skills in areas such as reading and phonics.
  Finally, the Davie and Yadkin County program teams with nonprofit 
organizations to strengthen the organization and other local 
operations. The Mebane Foundation's grant-making aims to increase the 
nonprofit community's presence in Davie and Yadkin counties.
  But the Mebane Foundation does not simply focus on the award of money 
through grant-making. It also serves as a leader in the community. The 
most visible example of this is the work they are doing with the Davie 
County schools.
  Eighty-five percent of North Carolina is rural with limited economic 
development opportunities and within 50 miles of larger urban hubs 
where most people migrate to work every day. Yet the Mebane Foundation 
realizes that even rural America can have public-private partnerships 
developed in support of pre-K to 12th grade education.
  The private sector has historically supported hospitals, colleges, 
and universities; and the Mebane Foundation is encouraging the private 
sector to support pre-K through 12 education as well.
  Michelle Speas, CEO of the Mebane Foundation, stated: ``The public 
schools belong to all of us and help educate over the generations the 
leaders of the richest and most diverse populace in the world. Whether 
you are a corporation, private foundation, community foundation or 
community leader, every rural county has at least one major player that 
can make a difference in the local public schools.''
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Allen Mebane and the Mebane Charitable 
Foundation for working to improve education through the private sector 
and wish them continued success for many years to come.

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