Milliken chosen as Chapman’s 2015 Cultural Champion

SPARTANBURG, SC – Chapman Cultural Center recognized Milliken & Company as its leading 2015 Cultural Champion at an annual business luncheon Friday, Nov. 6.

“Milliken has supported the arts in Spartanburg throughout the company’s history,” Chapman President Jennifer Evins said. “More specifically, Milliken has been a generous supporter of arts and science education since our founding in 1968. Not only has Milliken supported Chapman with unwavering financial support, the company has provided us with valuable business leadership, encouraged businesses to support the arts through the Milliken Challenge, and opened many doors to advance our mission to provide cultural leadership in Spartanburg County. Recognizing Milliken as the 2015 recipient of the Cultural Champions Award is but a small token of our appreciation.” Evins presented the award to Joe Salley, Ph.D., President and CEO of Milliken.

Each year, Chapman Cultural Center honors its corporate donors with a business luncheon at which the Cultural Champion is announced. Previous recipients include Southeastern Printing, JM Smith Corporation, and Spartanburg Herald Journal. As part of that recognition, the recipient receives a custom-made glass sculpture made by noted North Carolina artist Fred Mead.

Milliken & Company is the face of innovation in Spartanburg and a global leader in creative solutions that “Do Good” for the world — add value to daily lives, improve health and safety, and help make the world more sustainable. With thousands of international patents, Milliken’s creativity is world-renowned, infusing Art/Design into STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to create STEAM. The outcome of its business is more than products, such as specialty chemicals, floor coverings, and performance materials. The company creates a more sustainable and beautiful community through its philanthropic support and practices. Milliken & Company’s generosity is not only apparent through its award-winning practices in sustainability and gorgeous 600-acre campus, but through its exceptional contributions to the arts and sciences in Spartanburg County for more than 50 years. Milliken understands the significance of the arts, not only for their beauty but also for their role in producing the innovative workforce of tomorrow.

Creativity is often reported as the number one skill desired by today’s employers. Milliken supports Chapman Cultural Center’s award-winning Arts Advantage education programs for youth, Spartanburg Science Center, and the annual Milliken STEAM Teachers Institute, showing a dedication to building a better community from all angles. Over the history of the company, Milliken associates have served on the governing boards of Spartanburg Arts Council, The Arts Partnership, Ballet Spartanburg, Spartanburg Art Museum, Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Science Center, and Music Foundation of Spartanburg. In 2014, Milliken received the Americans for the Arts’s BCA10 Award that recognizes 10 world-class companies as champions for arts in America. Milliken & Company truly is a Cultural Champion in the Spartanburg community and worldwide.

Also recognized was James Ray, Ph.D. the recipient of the annual Cultural Champion Educator of the Year Award. Dr. Ray has been an avid supporter of arts education throughout his career. As superintendent of Spartanburg County School District 3, he led support for the Muse Machine program for 17 years to ensure that every school in his district was a member of the program, often describing it as “the best bargain in town” for his students. Dr. Ray has served on The Arts Partnership Board of Trustees and on many board committees throughout the years. He has often been consulted for his sage advice on ways the arts can benefit children in Spartanburg County. Chapman Board of Trustee member and chair of the Education Committee Beth JeterHrubala made the presentation to Dr. Ray.

The more-than 100 guests were welcomed by Chapman Board of Trustees Chairwoman Martha “Muffet” Chapman and the student chorus for Middle School of Pacolet directed by Gene Vanderford and accompanied by Jackie Harris. Fifth grader James “JP” Prescot Jr. sang a touching solo.

Guest speakers were Tim Giles, theatre artist and Assistant Director for Hub-Bub, and Darin Dotson, Milliken Senior Scientist, trumpet player for Spartanburg Community Band, and vocalist for Spartanburg Jazz Ensemble. As a young professional, Giles spoke on what it is like to be reared in Spartanburg, relocate to New York City to perform professionally, and eventually return to his hometown to make a difference in the local arts community, where he has found openness to his creative ideas. Dotson spoke on the benefits of living and working in Spartanburg where he can be innovative and creative as a Milliken scientist and at the same time be a performing artist. Dotson holds more than 40 US and international patents and enjoys performing as a volunteer musician in the Community Band and Jazz Ensemble.

The annual luncheon was sponsored by Better Homes & Garden: Young & Company, and Carolina Alliance Bank.