SMITHFIELD – The Friends of Johnston County Parks has received a $50,000 operational support grant from the Winston Family Foundation. The unrestricted grant will be distributed over two years, with $25,000 allocated for each year, and will provide crucial support to enhance the organization’s mission and initiatives.
This grant will enable the Friends of Johnston County Parks to move forward with several key projects and fulfill important objectives on their development wish list. The funds are set to be used for general operating support, ensuring the organization can expand its impact and continue its work promoting and supporting parks, recreation, and the arts across Johnston County.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Winston Family Foundation, particularly Bob Winston and Chief Executive Officer Sylia Obagi, for their trust and belief in our mission,” said Derrick Applewhite Jr., Chairman of the Friends of Johnston County Parks. “This grant is a testament to the potential and opportunities present in Johnston County, and we are excited to put these funds to work to create even more meaningful and lasting change in our communities.”
The Friends of Johnston County Parks is eager to work closely with the Winston Family Foundation to ensure the funds are used effectively and in ways that maximize their impact for the community. The Winston Family Foundation seeks to address issues of national importance related to health and well-being, focusing on child and adolescent brain development, the environment, as well as community and economic development.
“The partnership between our two groups is one of the many ways we can continue to build a stronger connection between the Johnston County community and nature,” Applewhite Jr. continued. “As our county continues to grow, the emphasis on protecting open space will be critical so that the next generation can connect with these spaces like we all have.”
The Friends of Johnston County Parks hosts the Annual Earth Day Countywide Cleanup, a yearly Walk & Talk about Trails event, and several trail maintenance days along county-based segments of the Mountains-To-Sea trail. In addition to events, the Friends are engaged in master planning, park planning, and transportation planning committees to ensure their perspective is heard.
Friends of Johnston County Parks is a volunteer coalition advocating in support of parks, open space, the arts, and recreational opportunities on behalf of all Johnston County citizens and visitors. Friends of Johnston County Parks is a 501(c)3 organization that believes that parks, open spaces, and the arts have the power to strengthen communities, transform lives, and protect the future. Members work with county and town officials, residents, and the media to promote, protect, and support recreational spaces in JoCo for everyone.
