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Tony and Vi Golding are “golden” for Davie County.

The couple agreed to match up to $125,000 in gifts to Ignite Davie made by Dec. 31; potentially adding a combined total of $250,000 to the Ignite Davie endowment.

“The endowment is important for ensuring Ignite Davie is available when today’s elementary children reach high school,” said Jane Simpson, Davie Community Foundation president. “Earnings from the endowment are pulled away from the investment each year to pay for the tuition and fees of Ignite Davie students.”

A $3 million goal was set for the Ignite Davie endowment to ensure the college promise program can continue long into the future. Fundraising reached the half-way mark but came to a screeching halt when the pandemic hit, Simpson said. “The Golding Challenge will hopefully revive the charitable spirit of the community and encourage everyone to invest in this important program for Davie.”

Community members can give through the donate page on the Ignite Davie website at IGNITEDAVIE.COM. Donations of all sizes may also be made through the Ignite Davie Go Fund Me Page, or by check payable to the Davie Community Foundation (holder of the endowment fund) and mailed to Ignite Davie, Attn: Carolyn McManamy, 135 S. Salisbury St., Mocksville, NC 27028.

“Gifts of all sizes are needed to meet the Golding Challenge and secure the match,” Simpson said.

Tony and Vi Golding’s match will create the Tony and Vi Golding Award for Ignite Davie students who go the extra mile in pursuing their education.

Tony Golding understands the value of hard work.  Born and raised on a dairy farm near Mount Airy, his work and dedication took him from a clerk at his dad’s store, “Golding’s Grocery & Service Station” to the quality control division at R.J. Reynolds, to founder/owner of Golding Farms Foods where he grew the company from one employee and one product to more that 90 employees and state of the art automation, which makes more than 400 products.

He sold the company in 2017 to a private equity group.

Vi Golding also knows the value of work and dedication. She worked for Blue Ridge Burke Insurance in Winston-Salem as manager and vice president. Later Blue Ridge Burke Insurance was acquired by BB&T Insurance, now Truist.

At the time of her retirement she was vice president of BB&T Insurance call center in Greensboro with 125 employees.

The couple will establish the Tony and Vi Golding Award for Ignite Davie students who are pursuing their education but need a little extra help. The award for tuition, fees and books will be made through Ignite Davie but remaining award dollars will assist students with food, gas and other necessary expenses.

“Our goal is to help young people who really work hard and want to get a good education but need some help along the way,” said Golding.  “If the community meets our challenge, it will provide more opportunities for students in Davie to continue their education without debt.”

Ignite Davie is a college promise program that invests in the students of Davie County.

Ignite Davie is a place-based last-dollar scholarship; which means students must live in, and attend school in Davie County.

Ignite Davie pays tuition and fees with a stipend for books for eligible students to attend Davidson County Community College fulltime at either campus. Students may pursue a certificate, associate’s, or college transfer degree.

For more information visit IGNITEDAVIE.COM or contact Carolyn McManamy at 336-753-6670.