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News The Golden LEAF Foundation Names Valeria L. Lee as President Durham, North Carolina, September 27, 2000 -- The Board of Directors of The Golden LEAF Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of Valeria L. Lee as the first President of The Golden LEAF Foundation, which provides economic impact assistance to economically affected or tobacco-dependent regions of North Carolina. The Board of Directors of The Golden LEAF Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of Valeria L. Lee as the first President of The Golden LEAF Foundation, which provides economic impact assistance to economically affected or tobacco-dependent regions of North Carolina. "The Board is delighted to have Valeria Lee's outstanding leadership at the helm of this remarkable new foundation," said William Friday, Chair of the Board. "The Golden LEAF Foundation will have a dramatic impact on rural North Carolina and we look forward to working with Ms. Lee to implement our vision over the coming years." "Communities throughout the state are threatened by the declining tobacco economy, but the Foundation will help them become reinvigorated," Ms. Lee said. "The Golden LEAF Foundation has resources that can strengthen these communities and help them take advantage of new opportunities in the global economy." The Golden LEAF Foundation was established by the State of North Carolina in 1999 for the purpose of receipt and distribution of a portion of the funds North Carolina receives as a result of the settlement of North Carolina v Philip Morris Incorporated, et al. The Foundation's mission is to provide economic impact assistance to economically affected or tobacco-dependent regions of North Carolina. Valeria L. Lee is one of the most experienced and informed professionals in North Carolina philanthropic circles. She served as Program Officer for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in Winston-Salem, North Carolina for the past fifteen years. She is Vice Chair and an incorporating member of the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center. Ms. Lee was the founder and General Manager of WVSP, a noncommercial public radio station in Warrenton. She currently serves on the boards of North Carolina Central University, the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Leadership Winston-Salem, and Future Focus 2020. She served on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors from 1993-1995 and the University of North Carolina Center for Public Television Board from 1980-1993 (Chair 1988-1992). She also has served on the boards of The North Carolina Agency for Public Telecommunications, The Southeastern Council on Foundations, Women in Philanthropy from 1990-97 (Chair 1995-1997), The Fund for Southern Communities, the North Carolina Institute for Politics, and the Sawtooth Arts Center. Ms. Lee was a candidate for Secretary of State in 1996. A native of Halifax County, she is a graduate of Eastman High School in Enfield, and holds a BS in Business from North Carolina Central University, a M.Ed. from North Carolina State University, and an MA in radio, television and film management from Ohio University. The Golden LEAF Foundation announced in July the grant procedure for receiving funds. A detailed package of information is available at http://www.goldenleaf.org. To receive a hardcopy of the application package, send email to info@goldenleaf.org or call 1-877-225-8362 (toll free) or 919-541-6401. Grant applications must be received by October 16 and the Foundation will announce grant awards in December 2000. The Foundation expects to make a limited number of grants in this first year, up to approximately $5 million. Both government and tax-exempt organizations are eligible to apply for grants. Any recipient of funds from the Foundation must agree that it will use the funds exclusively for charitable, scientific, educational or other exempt public purposes. The Foundation is interested in programs that promote or sustain economic development, such as education assistance, job training, employment assistance, alternative crop research, economic hardship assistance, public works, industrial recruiting, health and human services and community assistance. In releasing this statement, William Friday, Chair of the Golden Leaf Foundation Board said, "the Board is delighted to have Valeria Lee's outstanding leadership and proven public service available to this remarkable new foundation. The members of this Board have been working very hard to put together the best available structure and process to put these dollar resources to work wisely, usefully and quickly. Ms. Lee is a very intelligent person and she is very well informed and experienced in the life and problems of our State. She will be a most effective leader in implementing board policies and contributing her own creative and imaginative ideas."
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