May 21, 2009
For Immediate Release

RCCC Receives Grant from Robertson Family Foundation

              SALISBURY, N.C. — The Blanche and Julian Robertson Family Foundation Inc., has given Rowan-Cabarrus Community College a $25,000 grant to enhance the college's Continuing Education Emergency Services Program.

               The grant will provide firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) for RCCC instructors. RCCC serves as the primary delivery agency for fire and rescue training in Rowan and Cabarrus counties.

               Typically, the life of PPE is four to five years. Due to the extreme conditions PPE is subjected to in a training environment and the increasing number of students requiring this training, the average lifespan is closer to two to three years. With recent reductions in state funding, RCCC's Emergency Services staff are working to be resourceful in meeting the increasing training needs required by state and federal regulations.

               "We thank the Robertson Family Foundation for its generous support," said Roger McDaniel, director of emergency services at RCCC. "Training in live-burn situations is critical for rookie firefighters and veterans. The new protective equipment this grant will provide benefits the instructors and students at RCCC enormously. Proper training will help our firefighters save lives and property."

               Based in Salisbury, the Blanche and Julian Robertson Family Foundation Inc., was incorporated in 1997. It supports non-profit organizations and governmental agencies dedicated to improving their communities through arts and cultural; children, youth and family; community development; education; historic preservation; and public health and safety programs.

               RCCC is a comprehensive, community-based institution of higher learning, serving the citizens of Rowan and Cabarrus counties in North Carolina. RCCC is one of 58 colleges in the state-supported North Carolina Community College System.

                RCCC offers fully-accredited associate-degree programs in more than 40 areas of study, including arts and sciences, business, information technology, health and public services, and engineering technologies. RCCC also offers accredited diploma and certificate programs focused on career training, continuing education and basic skills education. RCCC provides a strong foundation and transferable credits for students moving on to four-year colleges and universities and helps adults get the additional training they need to start new careers.

               RCCC annually provides more than 2,000 course offerings, serving an overall enrollment of approximately 20,000 students. In addition, RCCC provides the education and job-training programs needed to meet many of the workforce demands of the North Carolina Research Campus being developed in Kannapolis. For complete details, see the RCCC website at www.rowancabarrus.edu.