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Bennett College Receives Two Major Gifts In One Day

Bennett College officials including President Phyllis Worthy Dawkins (second from right) accept $500,000 gift from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. BETHANY CHAFIN/WFDD

Bennett College in Greensboro has received $1 million in less than 24 hours, thanks to two large gifts.

Early Thursday the school tweeted that the Papa John's Foundation had donated $500,000.

At a press conference later that day, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation announced that it will give Bennett College half a million dollars as well.

Executive Director Maurice Green says the foundation's support aligns with the group's values as an organization.

“The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has been a longtime supporter of education and seeks to promote efforts around racial and gender equity," he says.

Bennett College is seeking to raise $5 million by February 1 in an effort to save its accreditation. With the new gifts, it has collected $2.7 million so far.

Bethany joined the staff of WFDD in the fall of 2012. She received her B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Wake Forest University and focused on Anglo-Irish writing. Between undergraduate studies and graduate school, Bethany served as the intern to Talk of the Nation at NPR in D.C., participating in live NPR Election Night Coverage, Presidential debate broadcasts, regular Talk of the Nation shows, and helping to plan the inaugural broadcast of ‘Talk of the World.' She enjoys engaging with her interests in books, politics, and art in the interdisciplinary world of public radio. Before becoming Assistant News Director, Bethany was a reporter and Associate Producer for WFDD's Triad Arts and Triad Arts Weekend. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Bethany enjoys calling the Piedmont home.

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