Biz Briefs: Novant Health contributes additional $10 million to COVID-19 disaster relief fund
Published 12:00 am Sunday, April 19, 2020
WINSTON-SALEM — Novant Health has contributed an additional $10 million to the Novant Health Disaster Relief Fund, which was created by the Novant Health Foundation to provide financial assistance to team members who need it most during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to this contribution, the fund had already raised more than $1 million from team members, the Novant Health executive team, community leaders and businesses.
“At Novant Health, our business is the care of all people and that starts with our team members,” said Carl S. Armato, president and chief executive officer of Novant Health. “We understand that while team members are on the front lines in the fight against the coronavirus, many of them are dealing with personal hardships at home. My hope is that this additional contribution to the Novant Health Disaster Relief Fund will reinforce our commitment to team members by allowing us to support them while they care for our community.”
In addition to the Disaster Relief Fund, Novant Health has been diligent in offering other supportive measures to its team members and the community, including:
- Partnering with community organizations to offer free and subsidized alternate child care to team members
- Redeploying team members to new roles so they can maintain their current hours
- Offering low-interest loans in partnership with M&F Bank to Novant Health-certified and minority-owned suppliers who are facing challenges caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
- Providing resources to the Hispanic/Latino community, including a Spanish-language helpline and an online coronavirus assessment tool
- Offering COVID-19 screening and respiratory assessment services to communities with limited access to health care
Novant Health Foundation established the Novant Health Disaster Relief Fund to support Novant Health’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and current critical needs. In addition to supporting team members, contributions will help fund testing and medication to support patient care, as well as medical supplies. The fund will be used across the entire Novant Health footprint to support and improve access to lifesaving health care for patients in their time of greatest need.
For more information on the Novant Health Disaster Relief Fund, visit NovantHealth.org/giving.
SECU and SECU Foundation provide food with a $2 million donation to Feeding the Carolinas
RALEIGH — Feeding the Carolinas, North Carolina’s statewide network of food banks, has received a total of $2 million in donations from State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) and the SECU Foundation. The $1 million donation from each entity will help the food banks secure the supplies they need to provide food to those facing hunger in communities across the state. These are the first of multiple donations anticipated from the joint commitment of $10 million ($5 million from each entity) to assist non-profit organizations in relief and recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Feeding the Carolinas is an incredible organization and we are honored to continue our partnership to help ensure North Carolinians and their families have access to supplies of healthy food,” said Jo Anne Sanford, SECU Foundation Board Chair, in a statement. “Many North Carolinians are now struggling with food insecurity because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Increased economic pressures caused by loss of jobs and by school and business closings have produced a heightened reliance on food banks. With donations from the Credit Union, the SECU Foundation, and other foundations and businesses, our food banks will be better positioned to help sustain our fellow citizens.”
“We are thankful for the leadership and this incredible financial gift by both State Employees’ Credit Union and the SECU Foundation,” said Mike Darrow, executive director of Feeding the Carolinas. “They recognize how critical it is to supply nutritious food to families and seniors during this unprecedented time. Our member food banks are on the frontline addressing hunger for our friends and neighbors in need. SECU has always been and continues to be a strong partner in our work to eliminate food insecurity and feed our fellow North Carolinians in time of need.”
Bob Brinson, chair of the SECU Board, added, “Feeding the Carolinas’ food banks are positioned in strategic locations across the state with staff and volunteers ready to battle the fight against hunger year-round, despite any crisis at hand. These donations are just one way we can reach out and give a helping hand. We’re thankful for the great work of Feeding the Carolinas and extremely proud to partner with them once again.”
Select Bank & Trust Company acquires three Western North Carolina branches from Entegra Bank, a Division of First Citizens Bank
DUNN, N.C. — Select Bancorp, Inc., the holding company for Select Bank & Trust Company, announced on Friday that Select Bank & Trust has finalized the purchase of three branches in western North Carolina from Entegra Bank, a Division of First Citizens Bank. Select Bank & Trust has assumed the deposits, and majority of the loans, property, equipment and other selected assets associated with the Entegra Bank branches located at 30 Hyatt Road, Franklin, NC, 498 East Main Street, Sylva, NC, and 473 Carolina Way, Highlands, NC.
The three locations will close at 2:00 PM on Friday April 17, 2020 and are scheduled to re-open as branches of Select Bank & Trust on Monday April 20, 2020. Given the public health and safety concerns related to spread of the novel Coronavirus, the branch lobbies will remain closed; however, the branches will continue to operate for customers through the Drive-Thru (Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM and Friday, 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM), by appointment and telephone, ATM and Digital Banking until further notice.
William L. Hedgepeth, President and CEO of Select Bancorp, said of the acquisition, “Our goal for some time has been to further expand the markets we serve and enter new markets. These branches will serve as an expansion of our footprint into western North Carolina. We are deploying our capital in a deliberate and efficient manner. This strategic acquisition fits nicely with our recent opening of a full-service branch in Cornelius, North Carolina (Charlotte area) and the opening of loan production offices in Winston-Salem and Durham, North Carolina.” He went on to explain, “Finding established locations with experienced employees in communities like these fit into our strategic plan perfectly and we are looking forward to serving these new customers. It is a tough time in our nation and world right now and we hope to continue to be a source of assistance and education for our customers, footprint wide. We are extremely proud of our employees and our newest employees for making this transition during this difficult time in our communities. We ask our new customers to be patient with us as we work through this transition with somewhat limited resources due to the novel Coronavirus pandemic. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team that we are able to finalize the purchase of these three branches at this point in time.”
The three North Carolina branches are located in western North Carolina southwest of Asheville. Select Bank & Trust was advised by Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC as financial advisor and Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP as legal counsel.
About Natalie Anderson
Natalie Anderson covers the city of Salisbury, politics and more for the Salisbury Post. She joined the staff in January 2020 after graduating from Louisiana State University, where she was editor of The Reveille newspaper. Email her at natalie.anderson@salisburypost.com or call her at 704-797-4246.
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