Presbyterian College receives $2.7 million to renovate the William Henry Belk Auditorium

The David Belk Cannon Foundation of Gastonia, N.C., has awarded $2.7 million to Presbyterian College to support renovations to the William Henry Belk Auditorium.

“We are thrilled to partner with Presbyterian College and continue the legacy of service to community and church for which William Henry Belk was known,” said Gene Matthews, President of the David Belk Cannon Foundation. “The mission of Presbyterian College, the mission of our Foundation and the lives that David Belk Cannon and William Henry Belk lived have many common threads. Our Board is excited about the opportunity to advance the College while honoring an incredible individual.”

The David Belk Cannon Foundation has asked that the College leverage the gift to encourage alumni and friends to support the renovations by challenging PC to raise an additional $500,000 toward the project.

The 1,100-seat auditorium was completed in 1960 through the generosity of members of the Belk family and business associates as a memorial to William Henry Belk, founder of Belk Department Store. Mr. Belk was nationally recognized for his business acumen, service to community, philanthropic generosity, and outstanding leadership in the Presbyterian Church.

The construction of Belk Auditorium acknowledged Mr. Belk’s belief in what PC provides young men and women – an excellent academic experience with a faith-based foundation.

PC President Bob Staton remembers Belk Auditorium as one of the College’s newest buildings when he arrived on campus as a student back in 1964.

“We are very grateful to the David Belk Cannon Foundation for providing this significant grant that will enable us to renovate the main auditorium and lobby of Belk Auditorium,” Staton said. “This project would not be possible without the Foundation’s assistance.”

The project is scheduled to begin on or before December 31, 2020.

About Presbyterian College

Providing a high-quality liberal arts education to young men and women has been the cornerstone of Presbyterian College (PC) for nearly 140 years. PC is known for challenging academics and a culture of honor, ethics, and service that prepares students to become leaders in their communities and chosen professions. With a motto of “While We Live, We Serve,” PC is a place that promises a dedication to service and a devotion to excellence, and pledges to give students the skills and capacities to achieve great things both on and off campus. PC offers undergraduate and graduate degrees with over 100 majors, minors, and programs. The College is in the second year of its five-year strategic plan called ‘The Promise of PC,’ which builds upon PC’s legacy and furthers its mission as a liberal arts college. The plan is significantly enhancing current programs while providing more opportunities to assure student success regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, religion or socioeconomic background.

About The David Belk Cannon Foundation

The David Belk Cannon Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1998 by the late David Belk Cannon.