JCSU News Release

Two Foundation Grants Awarded for
Campus Buildings

Two North Carolina-based foundations recently awarded grants to Johnson C. Smith University for improvements to campus buildings. The Dowd Foundation of Charlotte granted $50,000 to support the second phase of renovations to the university’s historic Carnegie Building, and Concord-based Cannon Foundation granted $50,000 for renovations to the university’s residence halls.

“Both the Dowd Foundation’s and the Cannon Foundation’s support of our efforts to restore the Carnegie Building and maintain our campus housing will have long-term effects for the campus. The Carnegie Building is part of our legacy, as is our ability to provide quality housing for our students, and we’re pleased to know this will be part of our future at Johnson C. Smith University,” said Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy, university president.

The Carnegie Building was constructed in 1911 and served as a library for JCSU for many years. Currently it houses offices and classrooms associated with the university’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs. The Carnegie Building recently underwent repairs to its roof and received adaptations that support current technology. Phase II of the building’s rehabilitation will upgrade the interior of the building.

JCSU maintains 10 residence halls on its 100-acre campus. The majority of the JCSU student body lives in campus housing.

The Dowd Foundation, created by the owners of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Co. in 1951, supports organizations in North Carolina and Virginia. The Cannon Foundation began in 1943 with giving focused on communities where Cannon Mills plants were located. The foundation provides funding for such capital expenses as construction and renovation.