With the sale of a company-owned youth camp in Kinston, WoodmenLife, a fraternal not-for-profit life insurance company, redirected part of those funds into a $5,000 donation to the Small Business Center at SCC. 

“About five or six years ago, we ended up selling the camp and going a different direction with hosting family days,” said Jordan McPherson, a financial representative of WoodmenLife since 2012. “Essentially, from the sale of that facility, Woodmen is all about giving money back into the community. This was a way to infuse those funds back into the community.” 

McPherson explained that WoodmenLIfe wanted to partner with another 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt organization and said that SCC’s SBC was “one of the best choices.” McPherson hopes the donation will help businesses fulfill the American dream of “making it work off your skills and your ambitions.” 

“Woodmen is a very patriotic company, and we’re very family-oriented, a very community-driven company,” McPherson said. “We help families with taking care of their insurance needs and their retirement savings needs, so that seemed like a very viable partner to join, help businesses thrive and help them as they’re helping others.” 

SCC’s SBC provides business seminars, confidential business counseling, loan program information and vital resources to residents of Columbus County free of charge. Pamela Young-Jacobs is the executive director of the SBC. 

“We are filled with joy and gratitude,” Young-Jacobs said. “Partnerships like these play a crucial role in supporting small businesses and promoting community development.” 

Young-Jacobs explained that the “trust placed in the Small Business Center to carry out this important work is a testament to the organization’s dedication to effectiveness in supporting entrepreneurs and local businesses.” She said the SBC was honored to partner with WoodmenLife and was appreciative of their contributions to the SBC’s goals. 

Young-Jacobs said the funds will be used to develop additional programs and initiatives that encourage small business awareness and creation in our youth and potential entrepreneurs in the county. 

“The small business community and the youth in our county will benefit,” Young-Jacobs said. “These funds will help the center accomplish goals and develop youth programs that would otherwise be prevented. By broadening our youth outreach, the SBC can create training programs and small business development that will take our youth to another level and instill an entrepreneurial mindset at an early age.”   

Organizations wishing to donate to the SBC can contact Young-Jacobs at SCC or Terry Priest, executive director of the SCC Foundation. All funds will go through the Foundation and be earmarked for the SBC.