SALISBURY — Rowan-Cabarrus Community College has been awarded a challenge grant from The Leon Levine Foundation for the support of healthcare education.

“This grant is a huge accomplishment for Rowan-Cabarrus. I can’t thank The Leon Levine Foundation enough for their confidence in us to meet the challenge and secure the funds we must raise for health-care education,” said Dr. Carol S. Spalding, president of the college.

With the help of a $300,000 Challenge Grant from The Leon Levine Foundation, the college takes a big step forward toward ensuring its long-term sustainability and continued impact in the community.

“We are excited to partner with an organization committed to a mission so close to the vision of our founder,” said Tom Lawrence, executive director of The Leon Levine Foundation. “We are extremely pleased to award this challenge grant to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. We are optimistic that our challenge will make a greater case for Rowan and Cabarrus residents and companies to support the college. Our intent is for this grant to help the foundation reach their goal.”

Today’s growing population of aging Americans and individuals with disabilities or other chronic conditions is outpacing the number of workers with the knowledge and skills to effectively care for them. Like other regions across the country, Rowan and Cabarrus counties face a shortage of certified health-care professionals.

“Like The Leon Levine Foundation, Rowan-Cabarrus supports high-quality health care and training for today’s health-care workers. We are critically aware of the changing field of health care and what that means for the industry’s training. The Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Foundation is dedicated to reaching our fundraising goal to ensure that the college is successful in enhancing health-care education,” said Carla Howell, chief officer of governance, foundation, and public relations.

Rowan-Cabarrus health-care programs have a track record of success in both student performance and program recognition.

“The college must seek private dollars to meet our goals,” said William Cannon, Jr., president of The Cannon Foundation. Cannon also serves as co-chair of the college’s campaign along with community leaders from both counties who are spearheading the effort to raise these funds. “We want to invest in new programs and modern technology, ultimately training students on real world equipment so they are ready for employment upon graduation.”

Over the past three years, the college brought together community leaders and industry representatives to determine the community’s most pressing needs.

“We are asking for support – not for things that the college needs, but what we believe the community needs,” said Edward Norvell, attorney and co-chair of the college’s campaign.

The Building a More Prosperous Community major gifts campaign, launched in spring of 2014, brought a new chapter for the Rowan-Cabarrus Foundation as the first ambitious fundraising campaign in the 50-year history of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.

The Leon Levine Foundation will contribute $300,000 to the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Foundation for health-care education if the health-care education gifts within the college’s Building a More Prosperous Community Major Gifts Campaign reach $1.2 million by May 31. If the goal is met, The Leon Levine Foundation will fulfill the college’s $1.5 million health-care education goal with a $300,000 grant, payable $60,000 per year over five years. Currently, the college has already raised $671,150.00 of the $1.2 million needed to fulfill the grant.

“We are grateful to The Leon Levine Foundation for an incredible opportunity to continue to grow the college’s efforts to train our healthcare workforce through this challenge grant. We are thankful to our donors for being a part of the movement that helps provide support for updating programs, laboratories and equipment; developing new programs aligned with emerging labor market demands; and increase student scholarships,” continued Norvell.

The Building a More Prosperous Community Major Gifts Campaign, with a total goal of raising $7.1 million, is centered on four key initiatives that address specific needs for the college, including a new advanced technology center, health-care education, an outdoor learning and amphitheater space, and STEAM scholarships for students pursuing science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

In addition to the four main initiatives, the college is seeking funds for two additional special projects – a solar energy investment, and the expansion of its Fire & Emergency Services Training Facility.

The Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Foundation will be devoted to securing the remaining funds over the next several months to ensure that this match from The Leon Levine Foundation is fulfilled.

“The Leon Levine Foundation exemplifies excellent philanthropic leadership and the college is grateful for their generosity,” said Spalding.

For more information about Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, visit www.rccc.edu or call 704-216-7222.