T he A.J. Fletcher Foundation has long supported Meredith College with gifts to the arts and music but most recently named the TV Studio Suite in the new Communication and Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences Building (CHESS) with a gift of $250,000.

Education and the arts have always been a mainstay of the foundation’s work. 

The A.J. Fletcher Foundation supports public charities located in North Carolina or serving North Carolina residents that promote education, caring for the elderly, or supporting the arts.

“At A.J. Fletcher we seek places like Meredith that continue to innovate and change with the times,” said Damon Circosta, executive director and vice president of the A.J. Fletcher Foundation. “We see that professors are always innovating and moving forward at Meredith and we want to be a part of that.”

Barbara Goodmon, ’94, current board president of the A.J. Fletcher Foundation and past executive director, came back to Meredith in her 40s as a student in the Wings – Adult Education Program (known then as the 23+ Program) and appreciates the second chance she received to further her education.

“Coming back to Meredith to complete a degree was the best experience and best decision for me. It allowed me to run a foundation and become involved in the community after I graduated,” said Goodmon.

Goodmon is happy to give opportunities to women and pleased to see the Foundation provide this gift for the CHESS Building and support the communication major for current and future students.

“We find it interesting that the TV studio and Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences program are in the same building. A lot of collaborative work can happen,” said Circosta. “A.J. Fletcher Foundation is pleased that Meredith is not resting on their laurels and thinking of new things and we are always happy to be a part of that.”

In addition to this generous gift, A.J. Fletcher Foundation plans to have further engagement with students, especially through internships.

“In so many internships with nonprofits, students are just introduced to that organization and what is within the four walls,” said Circosta. “We are looking at a new program where A.J. Fletcher interns would go out to other places that we support and learn about their organizations and how we help them. It would give them exposure to much more.”