Alcoa Volunteers Assist Stanly County Seniors

A team of volunteers from Alcoa Power Generating Inc. spent Friday, May 8 working with Stanly County senior citizens as part of the United Way of Stanly County’s Day of Caring. The volunteer effort was part of an Alcoa ACTION grant that involves the donation of time and money to support local community causes.

Alcoa employees completed five landscaping and home repair projects through OASIS, a non-profit organization which provides Stanly County seniors with services that help maintain independence and dignity, prevent premature nursing home admittance, and enhance quality of life. The company will also provide a $1,500 grant to OASIS.

“We love working with the seniors in our community,” said Nicole Wright, the Alcoa Foundation’s local coordinator. “Our employees really enjoyed spending the day out in the community and the people we worked with were so appreciative.”

Catching up with Alcoa scholarship recipients

Nicole Wright (center) meets with Alcoa scholarship recipients
Samir AlSamarraee (l) and Sandra Jimenez-Guillermo (r).

As part of Alcoa’s commitment to supporting education, the company regularly provides scholarships to students at Pfeiffer University and Stanly Community College. 

Nicole Wright, Alcoa’s community relations coordinator in central North Carolina, recently had the opportunity to catch up with two recent scholarship recipients during a dinner at Pfeiffer. 

Sandra Jimenez-Guillermo, a sophomore from Burlington, NC, is majoring in Biology. She is planning to go to pre-vet school and would eventually like to work in a zoo or find a job caring for small animals. 

Samir AlSamarraee, a sophomore from Greensboro, NC, is majoring in Biology with a minor in Psychology. He plans to become an anesthesiologist. In addition to attending school, Samir is currently working two jobs. 

“Both students couldn’t say enough about their love for Pfeiffer – the quality education, the great staff and the family feel of that school,” Wright said. “Alcoa is proud to support students like Sandra and Samir and help them pursue their college education.” 

During the tour, Wright was impressed with Pfeiffer’s long-term planning and the renovation of many historic buildings on campus.

Alcoa Foundation donates $20,000 to Stanly Community College

Nicole Wright presents a
$20,000 check from the
Alcoa Foundation to Christy
Bogle, executive director
of the Stanly Community
College Foundation.

Alcoa Foundation has awarded Stanly Community College a $20,000 grant to support its new Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Center. The grant will fund the purchase of industrial equipment that will used to provide technical training for students.

“This Alcoa Foundation grant will help Stanly Community College educate and train our local workforce with the engineering and manufacturing skills they need to succeed,” said Nicole Wright, Alcoa Foundation Coordinator for APGI. “Alcoa and the Alcoa Foundation strongly support Stanly Community College and believe the new Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Center will be incredibly valuable to our community.”

Stanly Community College is a primary provider of workforce training in the region, assisting in attracting new businesses to the area and providing continued training to those currently in the workforce. It launched a capital campaign last year to develop an Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Center to enhance its existing workforce development programs.

“Alcoa has been a long-time partner of Stanly Community College, especially in the area of workforce development. We are grateful for its continued support,” said Dr. Brenda Kays, president of Stanly Community College. “This grant will help support our new Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Center by providing much needed equipment to help our students learn new skills.”

The Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Center will introduce new training programs specifically designed to support local industries. Students can receive degree programs with industry-recognized certifications to provide a clear path to employment. Areas of focus include welding, machinists, and industrial maintenance technicians.

Alcoa employees volunteer at Community Inn in Albemarle

Volunteers from Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) in Badin took time out of their workday last week to feed the homeless at the Community Inn in Albemarle. The employees helped feed 100 people and provided a $1,500 donation to support Community Inn. 

“It’s important to give back and support the people in our community who need a helping hand,” said Nicole Wright, Alcoa Foundation Coordinator for APGI. “The Community Inn provides a valuable service to families in Stanly County and we’re glad that APGI can support their efforts by donating our time and money.”

The Community Inn is an emergency housing facility that assists people who need a place to stay for a short period of time. It is part of Homes for Hope, a non-profit organization that works to reduce homelessness in Stanly County by individuals and families with the support they need to gain independence and become successful community members.

The volunteer effort was part of Alcoa’s “Month of Service” that encourages employees across the world to support their local communities through donations of time and money. Last year, Alcoa employees spent more than 700,000 hours volunteering during the month of October.

During the “Month of Service,” APGI employees also helped pack meals for students at Aquadale Elementary School in Norwood to support the Weekend Food Program that provides healthy, non-perishable meals for students during the weekend.

Habitat for Humanity breaks ground on West Badin home

Stanly County Habitat for Humanity has begun construction on its first home in West Badin. The home, located on one two properties donated by Alcoa, will allow Habitat to fulfill another family’s dream of home ownership. 

“We are a company that believes strongly in supporting our communities,” said Kevin Anton, Alcoa’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “In Badin and around the world, Alcoans like to build things. This is a great cause that we were happy to support.”

Anton visited the Badin site last week with a team of Alcoa employees and Habitat leadership. 

“We are grateful for the partnership of Alcoa and are excited about the possibilities of helping this community grow,” said Cemita Gibbs, Executive Director of Stanly County Habitat for Humanity. “It is obvious by this donation that Alcoa cares about their community and the people.”

Alcoa employees plan to take part in building the home. 

“Our employees have already told me that they are looking forward to volunteering to help Habitat for Humanity during the construction of this home,” Nicole Wright, Alcoa Foundation Coordinator. “It’s a great way to give back to the community and we look forward to the start of the project.”

Alcoa promotes water safety with $25,000 grant to Stanly County YMCA

Alcoa launched its annual water safety campaign this month by announcing a $25,000 grant from the Alcoa Foundation that will support learn to swim programs at the YMCA. 

The grant is one of several ways that Alcoa is working with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and local law enforcement agencies to promote water safety this summer. The company is giving away hundreds of free life jackets to children, providing financial support to local sheriff departments for increased patrols of the lakes, and spreading its message of “Playing it Safe on the Lakes,” through billboards, ads and promotional items. 

“It’s so important that we remind people to be vigilant about water safety,” said Nicole Wright, Alcoa Foundation Coordinator. “We can prevent so many tragedies by helping our children learn to swim.  We are honored to support the YMCA’s learn to swim programs and hope parents take advantage of classes that are available.”

The $25,000 grant to the Stanly County Family YMCA will help promote water safety and swimming skills through the 2nd Grade Learn to Swim Program at the Y.

The program, started at East Albemarle Elementary School in 2005, has grown to serve nine elementary schools across Stanly County. Plans call for the program to expand to all elementary schools in the county.

“Both Alcoa and the Y have long histories in promoting water safety,“ said John Lowder, Executive Director of Stanly County Family YMCA.  “This partnership is a perfect match to allow both organizations to work together to make Stanly County a safer place to live and play.” 

Click here to read more about the grant in the Stanly News & Press and Salisbury Post.

See television coverage of Alcoa's water safety campaign from News 14 and WXII.