History Continued

The John M. Belk Memorial Fund and The Belk Foundation helped establish hundreds of Presbyterian churches. This newspaper clipping shows the groundbreaking of the Henry Belk Pres. Church in Anderson, S.C.

William Henry Belk believed that children should be instructed in the tenets of the faith by learning the catechism. He provided incentive for this through what became known as “Belk Bucks.”

Philanthropy Through the Generations

The descendants of William Henry Belk and Dr. John M. Belk have contributed significantly to maintaining the family’s rich legacy of philanthropic support and leadership over the years. Grants by The Belk Foundation, along with contributions from the Belk department stores organization, as well as generous personal gifts by individual family members, have supported hundreds of deserving nonprofit organizations and causes across the South. Three generations of Belk family members have served on the board of the Foundation since its founding.

Over time, an increasing focus by the Foundation on education resulted in generous grants to dozens of colleges and universities. In 1993, the Belk family received the University Award, the highest honor bestowed by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. “They have been trustees of fifteen different colleges and [have served] on many boards and commissions,” said C.C. Cameron, a board member and chair of the awards committee. “There’s a building on every campus [in North Carolina] with the Belk name on it.”

In January 2010, the Board of Directors of The Belk Foundation adopted a new mission statement that placed a stronger focus on giving to support schools and educational programs and initiatives. Interested in increasing the impact of its charitable investments, the Foundation is focused currently on investing in programs that increase student achievement, the high school graduation rate, and success immediately following high school.


Partnership between The Belk Foundation and Belk, Inc.

Over the years, The Belk Foundation and Belk, Inc. have worked together to find ways to benefit communities throughout the South. This partnership is even stronger today. The Belk Foundation and Belk, Inc., rooted in the same family history of care for the people of the South, strive for partnership opportunities that benefit communities in which Belk associates live and work. While The Belk Foundation and Belk, Inc. are separate entities, they often work together as partners in support of select community projects and needs.

Historically, Belk, Inc. and its predecessor department store companies have made annual contributions to The Belk Foundation in support of its charitable giving. These contributions have continued to be an affirmation of the strong philanthropic partnership between Belk, Inc. and The Belk Foundation.

Belk Tower at UNC-Charlotte. UNC-Charlotte is one of many campuses in the South that bear the Belk name in honor of financial support.

Belk employees stand with students from the model out-of-school time program Citizen Schools, a Foundation grantee. In this partnership, Belk, Inc. introduced the students hands-on fashion merchandising experience.