Forbes
Mar 5, 2019
Lilach Bullock, Contributor

Ranked No. 5: The Modernizer: Goodwill

Goodwill is most famous for thrift stores that bring us Halloween costumes and 90s grunge revival outfits. But they do so much more than that: they also bring employment opportunities for at-risk individuals, job training and other community-based programs to help the people who are somehow prevented from getting a job.

When brick-and-mortar retail was hammered by recessions in the new millennium, Goodwill adapted, making a successful transition to e-commerce in 2007 in order to avoid dying out simply because people moved from brick-and-mortar to online shopping. Now, you can hunt for vintage gold jewelry, designer handbags or mid-century musical instruments on shopgoodwill.com. Old school turned new school.

Conclusion

The social enterprises in this list have not only made an impact on the world and the causes they each believe in, but they also show businesses that the words “charity” and “profits” are not mutually exclusive as many of these enterprises have operated successfully for years and even dozens of years. That’s not to say that you should stop now and turn your business into a social enterprise; rather, if there’s one thing to learn is that every business has the power to change the world, however little – it’s just a question of finding the right cause for your business and sticking to your guns.

Rowan County Crosby Scholars

Rowan County Crosby Scholars, through the support of donors and community partners, awarded 138 graduates a $1,000 Last Dollar Grant to help finance their college education.

Recipients are:

• Ethan Diaz, Elizabeth Haff, Logan Ridenhour and Paige Sloop, Appalachian State University.
• Mikayla Lambeth, Cabarrus College of Health Sciences.
• Will Anthony, Irma Begic, Andrea Garrido-Lecca, Darreon Gittens, Trilby Kirk, Drew Kisamore, Henderson Lentz, Autumn McGee, Katelyn Nesbitt, Jodi Nesbitt, McKenzie Upright, Lyshet Valencia and Tiffany Vang, Catawba College.
• Javin Goodine, Clemson University.
• Dominque Karczewski, Coastal Carolina University.
• Mackenzie Stall, College of Charleston.
• Ceci Cardelle, Duke University.
• Jailene Aguilar, Graham Bowes, Clarence Brownell, Joseph Dufour, Keshone Evans, Madi Fuller, Donté Hill, Alicia Kincaid, Chandler Lippard, East Carolina University.
• Destiny White, Gardner-Webb University.
• Marvin Scruggs and Rylie Stewart, Greensboro College.
• Tessa Nicolosi, Guilford Technical Community College.
• Micah Helms, Brandon Kimberlin, Mackenzie Reid, High Point University.
• Jamarius Hairston, Lander University.
• Fuller Ketchie, Lee University.
• Hannah Cargill, Lees-McRae College.
• Keelee Morgan, Liberty University.
• Jessica Eagle, Mitchell Community College.
• Bailey Graham and Cierra Hunter, Montreat College.
• Jibri Cowan, Shanadia Cowan, Keke Daniels, Quan Jackson, N.C. A&T State University.
• Taelor Davis and Shanice Miller, N.C. Central University.
• Tristyn Flowers, Devin Gay, Mercy Kreul, Bekah Lippard, Mikayla Mather, Baily Rayfield, Cameron Rayfield, Garrison Seitz, N.C. State University.
• Elizabeth Medina-Diaz, Ohio State University.
• Jonathan Brindle Jr., Marissa Meadors, Ivy Rabon, Kayla Smith, Bri White, Matthew Zucchero, Pfeiffer University.
• Emma Cooler, Daniel Garcia-Lopez, Queens University.
• Lindsey Cox, Christian Deneen, Mcgwire Smith, Khalil Vinson, Maddie Woodward, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
• Jessica Driver, Salem College.
• Bethany Raynes, University of North Carolina at Asheville.
• Alex Burnham, Keegan Dillon, Makayla Dillon, Alex Ho, Susannah Horton, Amanda Patton, Lunar Singsomphone, Timmy Wilmot, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
• Aunika Allen, Kendré Bates, Allyson Baxter, Kelsey Borras, Dante Cataldo, Connor Childers, Nicole Cook, Anna Cox, Andrew Eller, Lydia Isaacs, Kalea Kennedy, Kaitlyn McCombs, Miguel Miller, Dillon Minehart, Angelina Palacios, Radha Patel, Ethan Rhodes, Jon Ritchey, Conrad Shugart, Elizabeth Thao, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
• Dhasan Boler, Taylor Ellis, Miyahka Farris, Madison Full, Zach Hamm, Katie Howard, Julissa Pineda-tinajero, Jesus Sanchez, Deedee Woazeah, University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
• Madison Humphries, University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
• Julianna Cox, Hailey Overcash, Kaya Peele, Elena Turnbull, Hanna Venable, University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
• Abby Johnson, Virginia Tech.
• Taylor Wiggins and Robert Yount, Wake Forest University.
• Gisselle Anaya-Castillo, Evelyn Benitez-Repreza, Morgan Brown, Megan Driver, Eileen Nguyen, Levi Peterson, Alexis Witt, Daniel Woomer, Western Carolina University.
• Joe Brooks, Megan Huffman, Bryson Pope, Wingate University.
• Janae Bates, Jaylen Brown, Briana Dummett, Amarriya Harris, Khalil Oglesby, TJ Warren IV, Winston-Salem State University.

By Post Education

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Published 12:00 am Thursday, October 18, 2018

By Post Education

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Published 12:00 am Thursday, October 11, 2018

Rowan County Crosby Scholars

SALISBURY — Rowan Crosby Scholars’ fourth ^“BBQ, Bands & Boots” fundraiser on Sept. 29 was a festive celebration of the program’s first five years and a gleeful gathering of the community that has supported its mission of building a college-going culture in Rowan County. In 2017, the program took a year off from hosting the event to focus on a capital campaign for Last Dollar Grants, but after receiving requests from the community to bring it back, BBQ, Bands, & Boots was “re-BOOT-ed” in 2018.

Guests were greeted by dozens of high school Crosby Scholars clad in cowboy hats, bandanas and the Rowan County program’s signature black, white and red t-shirts. As supporters entered the F&M Trolley Barn, they enjoyed Jim ‘N Nicks delicious smoked barbecue pork, chicken and sides, while grooving to the live music of acoustic guitar duo, Melonbelly.

Top-shelf bourbon was served from a uniquely decorated bread truck, meanwhile attendees could compete in a rousing game of Heads and Tails and even a round of corn hole. All through the evening, a large screen displayed the program’s success stories and dozens of smiling photos of graduates currently attending college and benefiting from a Last Dollar Grant.

Proceeds from BBQ, Bands & Boots will directly support Crosby Scholars’ Last Dollar Grant program, which will help offset unmet financial need for college-going Crosby Scholars. The program has graduated over 500 seniors since 2016 and awarded more than $250,000 in Last Dollar Grants to students attending 45 different colleges and universities across the country.

Crosby Scholars is a free college access program available to all Rowan County public school students beginning in sixth grade and continuing through high school graduation.  The program helps students prepare academically, personally, and financially for college and for life. Tenth grade is the last chance for a student to join the program. The deadline to enroll online this year is Friday.

To learn more about the Crosby Scholars program in Rowan County, its mission and how you might become involved, please visit www.crosbyscholarsrowan.org or call 704-762-3512.

By Rebecca Rider

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Published: July 19, 2018

SALISBURY — Rowan Crosby Scholars is increasing its reach with two new, grant-funded staff members.

New this year are middle and high school outreach specialists, David Stevenson and Hanson Saryee.

Executive Director Jessica Vess said the hope is that the additions will help reach more minority groups, like African-American men and Latinos.

“Those are two of the groups that we want to see more representation from,” Vess said. “We want people to know that we’re here for everyone.”

David Stevenson, a 23-year-old Catawba College graduate, is the high school outreach specialist. Stevenson will assist the Crosby Scholars high school program coordinator and will be based at East Rowan High School working with freshmen across the county and sophomores at East Rowan.

“It’s advising them on their academics for college. … It’s helping them graduate high school,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson said he’s happy he gets to remain in Salisbury — a community he fell in love with during college — and to help students who may fall through the cracks.

“It’s really great because I’m here to fill a gap, fill a need in our community,” he said.

The middle school outreach specialist is Hanson Saryee, a Philadelphia native and Salisbury transplant. Saryee, 23, graduated from Salisbury High School before pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He said he’s eager to give back to his community.

Once school starts again, Saryee will be based at North Rowan and Knox middle schools, though he’ll reach out to students across the county.

Saryee said he’ll help guide students and get them thinking about their future, as well as be a helping hand and a support through a difficult period in life.

“It’s a lot of change, a lot of transition moving from middle school to high school,” he said.

Saryee will offer information and let students know what resources are available. It’s an opportunity he wishes he’d had in school.

“One thing I’m excited about is working with the kids and providing them with what I didn’t have,” he said.

Both staff positions are funded by a donation from local philanthropist Fred Stanback.

Vess said with Stevenson and Saryee on board, she has high hopes for reaching new students.

“We’re excited to have more representation,” she said.

By Rebecca Rider

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Published 12:00 am Thursday, July 19, 2018

SALISBURY — Rowan County Crosby Scholars will enter the 2018-19 school year under new leadership. Jessica Vess, 39, will succeed Jennifer Canipe as the nonprofit agency’s new captain.

Canipe announced her retirement in May, and Vess, a former Crosby Scholars employee, was asked to step in as interim executive director. Canipe encouraged Vess to put her name in the pot for the permanent job.

“’If there’s anything in you that wants this job, you need to apply for it,’” Vess said Canipe told her.

Vess said she was “humbled and flattered” to be chosen.

Vess describes herself as “an East Coast girl,” as her family moved frequently when she was young. Around the time Vess started middle school, her family settled in the Chapel Hill area and chose to call it home.

Though she has an eclectic background that includes business, college admissions, youth ministry and music, Vess said her passion has always been college access and helping young people figure out their goals in life.

Vess earned her degree in business administration in 2000 from Chowan University and immediately accepted a job in the school’s admissions office.

“So that’s really about the time that I fell in love with college access,” she said

She married her husband, Jeremy, in 2002, and the couple moved to Nashville, then to Salisbury to be near Jeremy’s family. Vess dabbled in music, worship ministry and youth ministry before accepting a job at Crosby Scholars in 2013.

Despite her other jobs, Vess said her passion has always beenl college access. But at the time, there were no local positions open.

“I wanted to find that avenue, but (Salisbury) hadn’t really presented it to me,” she said.

When Crosby Scholars was launched in 2013, Vess came on board as a program associate. It was Crosby Scholars’ first year, and the program were still fluid. But Vess said she’s been proud to watch it grow.

“It’s really neat to have been involved in this program from its infancy,” she said.

Vess held several jobs at Crosby Scholars before leaving to be a full-time mom to her newborn daughter, Josie, in 2016. But her stint ended on a high note, with her overseeing the program’s first crop of seniors — the same students Vess had worked with throughout their high school careers.

“To really be with them the whole way was a really neat experience,” she said.

Even juggling motherhood and worship ministry, Vess still volunteered with Crosby Scholars. She ran training, helped with the website and social media, and offered her expertise whenever asked.

“I still had my hands in that work,” she said.

When Canipe called and asked if Vess would serve as interim executive director, she agreed.

“Jennifer contacted me and asked if I would help in this transition period,” Vess said.

Now, Vess is excited to take Rowan County Crosby Scholars into the future — but she knows Canipe’s departure has left a void in the organization.

“She’s a powerhouse,” Vess said of Canipe. “…At first it was a little but overwhelming, the shoes I was being asked to fill. Now I look at it as standing on her shoulders instead of filling her shoes.”

A change in leadership won’t result in any hard and fast changes in the organization, Vess said. Crosby Scholars is modeled after a program in Forsyth County, a model Vess plans to uphold. But there are small ways to innovate, she said.

The Crosby Scholars staff is constantly searching for new ways to reach more students and to help students meet their goals, she said.

“There’s always new ways to go about trying to meet those goals,” she said.

Vess hopes to cultivate deeper relationships with the school system — particularly with the guidance and career and technical education departments.

“Those are some things I’d love to see our program tackle in the future,” she said.

In the meantime, Vess and others at Crosby Scholars will continue to get the word out about the program.

“We’re always educating the county on who we are, what we do and how we can help,” she said.

While she has not concrete vision for the program, Vess does have dreams. Her biggest one, she said, is that every Rowan County student would consider Crosby Scholars a resource at their disposal and that the program would “bring hope and a future” to any student considering college or their future — in any form.

“So that’s where we want to come in,” Vess said. “We want to support them on all fronts. … We want to make magic for people.”

By Post Education

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Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 17, 2018

Rowan County Crosby Scholars

SALISBURY — Crosby Scholars ushered in graduation season with its third Senior Gala on April 29. The program celebrated this year’s graduating class of 145 Rowan-Salisbury Crosby Scholars seniors.

The class of 2018 has provided the community more than 8,800 hours of volunteer service and participated in 1019 hours of academy workshops. As Crosby seniors, they received one-on-one college advice and assistance with the college application process.

The students — 33 percent of whom will be first in their families to go to college — will attend college as far away as Seton Hall and Vanderbilt and as close by as Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.

Rowan-Cabarrus, for the third year, is the top choice for Crosby Scholars seniors. Appalachian State University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte round out the top three.

A highlight of the afternoon was keynote speaker Phil Kirk’s message to the seniors. Kirk, a native of Salisbury, told stories about his time as chairman of the State Board of Education. After the speech, the Crosby Scholars were invited to walk across the stage as their names and college choices were announced.

By Post Letters

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Published 12:00 am Sunday, April 15, 2018

Salisbury

It was indeed an honor to have an article about my retirement published in the Post. I want to ensure, however, that proper credit is given to Gwin Barr and Kathy Rusher, who not only initiated the concept of bringing a college access program to Rowan County, but have faithfully worked with Crosby Scholars since its inception.

Along with them, credit needs to also go to the tremendous Crosby Scholars staff and volunteers who work with our students on a daily basis to ensure each who has the dream of college can make that dream a reality.

With the on-going commitment of these folks and support of our community partners, I believe this program will continue to prosper and positively impact Rowan County for years to come.

— Jennifer Canipe