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| SECU Board Chair McKinley Wooten announcing Prize for Innovation grant at Emerging Issues Forum. |
In keeping with its strong focus on promoting education and community development, SECU Foundation has provided this year, the first of four planned $200,000 annual grants in support of the newly named State Employees’ Credit Union Emerging Issues Prize for Innovation through the Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) at NC State University. The 2014 Prize for Innovation competition will engage college level students to collaborate and respond to challenges facing their communities and State, specifically in the areas of education, health, natural and built environments, and the economy. SECU Foundation’s gift will allow IEI to expand on its Prize for Innovation competition, offering $50,000 in prizes to winning college teams in each issue area. McKinley Wooten, State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) Board of Directors Chairman, presented the grant at the February 12th Emerging Issues Forum on behalf of SECU members, who fund the Foundation.
IEI developed the Emerging Issues Prize for Innovation in 2010. The Prize for Innovation engages and energizes North Carolina’s young people about the role they can play in policy and economic development, and highlights the collaborative spirit, talent, and initiative it takes to put ideas into action.
“The Prize for Innovation has been one of the most effective and engaging programs we’ve managed at the Institute for Emerging Issues,” said Anita Brown-Graham, Director of IEI. “With the support of SECU Foundation, we’ll now be able to engage even more young people. This means more ideas, more innovation, and more opportunities for a new generation to lead the way to a brighter future for our State. It’s an exciting day for us, and we’re thrilled about this partnership.”
McKinley Wooten comments, “The SECU member-funded Foundation is pleased to provide this gift for the Emerging Issues Prize for Innovation competition. In partnership with IEI, we look forward to challenging and empowering North Carolina’s students to invest in the future of our State’s citizens through innovative ideas and leadership.”