President Valerie Kinloch And Distinguished JCSU Contingent Attend Duke Endowment Luncheon
Johnson C. Smith University proudly joined The Duke Endowment in celebrating this year’s James B. Duke Scholarship Luncheon, recognizing outstanding freshman and senior Duke Scholars from JCSU and Davidson College.
Representing the Golden Bulls with distinction, senior Marvin Brown ’26 delivered an inspiring message on leadership, scholarship, and service.
President Dr. Valerie Kinloch and members of JCSU’s distinguished administration were in attendance, honoring our scholars’ dedication and the University’s longstanding partnership with The Duke Endowment.
The Duke Endowment seeks to enrich lives and communities across North Carolina and South Carolina by supporting grantees as they nurture children, promote health, educate minds and uplift spirits.
Located in Charlotte, N.C., the Endowment seeks to fulfill the visionary genius and innovative legacy of James Buchanan Duke, one of the great industrialists and philanthropists of the 20th century. Mr. Duke established the Endowment in 1924 with $40 million. In 1925, it was expanded with an additional $67 million from his estate. Adjusted for present value, Mr. Duke’s total gifts would amount to almost $1.9 billion today.
It was by the stroke of his pen that James B. Duke created The Duke Endowment, and the integration of his signature as a graphic element in our logo underscores the legacy that is the foundation and guiding force of The Duke Endowment.
Governed by a board of trustees, Endowment staff conduct grantmaking according to guidelines in Mr. Duke’s original Indenture of Trust (pdf), a legal document that remains relevant and timely after more than 100 years. In November 2011, Trustees approved six Guiding Principles for our work.