New foundation launched at joint Extension foundations event

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Foundation, the 4-H Development Fund and the Family and Consumer Sciences Foundation welcomed a fourth foundation to the Extension family on April 22. The North Carolina Extension and Community Association (ECA) Foundation was officially launched at the joint luncheon that accompanies the foundations’ annual meeting. And as part of the ceremonies at the N.C. State University Club, Extension legend Ada B. Dalla-Pozza was honored as an ECA Foundation lifetime board member.

Dr. Ed Jones, Cooperative Extension Service (CES) associate director for agricultural programs, presided. Also participating were Stan Biconish, CES Foundation president; Sue Counts, Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Foundation president; and Dorothy McKoy, past president of the ECA. Taking the podium to extend greetings and introduce special guests were Dr. Joe Zublena, CES acting director, and Dr. Marshall Stewart, CES associate director and head of the Department of 4-H Youth Development and Family & Consumer Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Maurene Rickards of the CALS Advancement Office presented the leaders of the new foundation.

The ECA is a volunteer educational organization that operates through a memorandum of understanding with Family and Consumer Sciences to strengthen families in North Carolina. Sylvia Churchwell, who is the new foundation’s president, led the steering committee that helped shape the ECA Foundation. At the inaugural meeting on this day, the new board and executive committee formally established the foundation, ratifying its by-laws, confirming its mission and vision statements and approving its logo, among other “start-up” business.

Upon receiving the official gavel, Churchwell said, “We are proud to join the other three foundations to support the efforts of our citizens across the state.”

She then unveiled the new logo, with mission and vision statements, as the ECA executive committee and board were introduced.

As its mission, the ECA Foundation is “committed to acquiring and managing resources that enhance families through the development of volunteer leadership and support of educational programs on the local, district and state levels.”

The foundation’s vision is “to become an avenue for N.C. Extension and Community Association members and associates to fund the continuing education of families in our changing society.”

Rickards introduced Dalla-Pozza, named the board’s lifetime honorary member. “It was under her leadership that many homemakers blossomed into leaders in their communities and the state and became family and consumer sciences agents,” Rickards said.

Dalla-Pozza, who was born in Anson County and now resides in Cary, is known for decades of service as a North Carolina home economist. She has been active in Cooperative Extension for more than 70 years, having become the youngest Cooperative Extension agent in the state in 1943, after her graduation from Woman’s College in Greensboro (now UNC-G). As assistant state home economics leader, she provided leadership to the N. C. Extension Homemakers organization, which is now the Extension and Community Association.

“I’m honored to accept this role with the new foundation,” said Dalla-Pozza. “The formation of a Family and Consumer Sciences Foundation was exciting, and the creation of this ECA Foundation is equally exciting.”
Wrapping up the event, Jones told the foundations members, “Today is a great day of celebration. Our mission as a land-grant university is being fulfilled as you secure the resources to expand our Extension and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences programs.”
—Terri Leith