A staff reportIn the year 1999, a new journey began in North Carolina. It was the birth of Golden LEAF, an organization established with the purpose – to receive a portion of the state’s funding from the historic Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers. At its inception, state leaders and early board members recognized an opportunity to lay the foundation for significant economic transformation across North Carolina.Fast forward nearly 25 years, and Golden LEAF stands tall with progress in the state. Throughout its journey, this organization has been unwavering in its commitment to collaborating with state and local governments, nonprofits, and individuals. Their shared goal? To ignite economic opportunities in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities. Golden LEAF achieves this through a multifaceted approach, including grantmaking, scholarships, fostering collaboration, fostering innovation, and practicing careful stewardship of resources, all as an independent and perpetual foundation.Over the years, Golden LEAF has continuously adapted to address the evolving needs of the state. It has refined its funding opportunities to align with proven economic development strategies, all while staying true to its core mission. In doing so, it has become a driving force behind the revitalization of North Carolina’s economy.As Golden LEAF approaches its 25th anniversary, it finds itself at a pivotal juncture. It recognizes that this milestone is the ideal moment to reflect on its journey, not only in terms of impact but also in terms of its visual identity. With that in mind, Golden LEAF embarked on a journey of rebranding and logo redesign. The aim is to ensure that the organization accurately represents its present state and its vision for the future.Today, we are excited to unveil this new look to the world. Golden LEAF’s website has already been refreshed, and in the coming weeks, you’ll witness this new identity taking shape across all our platforms and in-person engagements. This transformation reflects not only how far Golden LEAF has come but also its unwavering commitment to advancing economic opportunity and transformation in North Carolina.As we celebrate 25 years of Golden LEAF’s impactful journey, we invite you to join us in commemorating this milestone and look forward to a future filled with even greater achievements as we continue to sow the seeds of economic growth and prosperity across the Tar Heel State.
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