Nicole Tepper:

“Dave and I really believe in the importance of education for all children, and it was heartbreaking to think that the pandemic had made it so difficult for many students to learn and participate in school. By providing the hotspots, we saw an opportunity to help those students who didn’t have the benefit of consistent internet access to attend classes virtually. The parents, families and friends that helped these students succeed in school during an incredibly difficult time deserve the credit, and Dave and I were very thankful for our chance to play a small part in that.”

M.C. Belk Pilon:

“The John M. Belk Endowment was honored to participate in the "Connect for Tech" effort to help address bridging the digital divide in our community. We must never forget that the equity and technology gaps should stay at the forefront of our minds at the local, state, and federal levels if we want to help shape a more equitable workforce of today and tomorrow.”

Gene Matthews:

“When we received the invitation from The John M. Belk Endowment to partner with them and The Tepper Foundation we jumped at the chance. As we watched businesses, schools, health care—in essence, people— scrambling to adjust to the uncertainties of COVID-19, we wanted to do everything we could to help our community. The pandemic highlighted the digital divide in our region, and having the opportunity to join with these two outstanding foundations to provide Internet hot spots gave us the chance to help students stay connected to their studies and alleviate some of the stress on their families. We were proud to reach across the borders of Gaston County in a joint effort to help the children of Mecklenburg County.”