Institutional Advancement - THE A-TEAM
Mission Statement
The Office of Institutional Advancement strives to fulfill the mission of Paine College by providing support to the College in areas of fundraising and development. In doing so, the Institutional Advancement team walks together, ethically and in excellence as we carry out our service to Paine College students, alumni and friends with professionalism. We maintain a high regard and respect for our alumni and an encouraging optimism to secure private and public financial resources for Paine students of today and tomorrow! The Office of Institutional Advancement seeks to propel Paine College toward its objective of stimulating, molding, challenging and educating minds . . . worldwide.
Vision Statement
In our pursuit for securing and generating financial support, raising Paine College's visibility, cultivating alumni relations or reaching out to the community, Institutional Advancement will always have in mind and hold dear to our hearts, Paine College's five Ethical and Spiritual Core Values: Excellence, and Appreciation of Heritage Integrity, Fiscal Responsibility and Service. These core values hold true as we work with one another on the Institutional Advancement team. These core values will help foster respect for one another, compassion and creativity.
Institutional Advancement Staff
Helene T. Carter
Vice President for Institutional Advancement and TRACS Liaison
Office: (706) 821-8323
Cell: (803) 664-0080
hcarter@barbarastennis.com
Helene Carter was appointed Assistant Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Paine College in 2009, and later promoted to Vice President in April 2019. She was recruited to lead a newly developed fundraising unit (Institutional Development) designed to support several fundraising offices: Alumni Relations; Communications & Marketing; Endowments, Scholarships and render services for the team that directed the legislative agenda for the Institution. Since her arrival at Paine, Ms. Carter has steered several grant applications that benefited capital improvements for residential halls, academic buildings, and the Chapel. She developed strategies that increased the Annual Scholarship Fund and steered the UNCF Scholarship Campus Campaign that exceeded its goal for three consecutive years with over a $225,000 return to the College each year. In 2019, Ms. Carter cultivated the single largest cash gift in the history of the College. The $1.8 Million gift, donated by Paine Alums David and Betty Peterson, satisfied the outstanding mortage on the Health Education Activities Learning (HEAL) Complex. Ms. Carter also lends her support as the TRACS Liaison on the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools Paine Accreditation Team. An avid relationship builder, she cultivated the Tom Joyner Foundation Campaign for both Claflin University (2002) and for Paine College (2010). Of note, Ms. Carter served on the Historic $30 Million Capital Campaign for Claflin University and carved her niche as an Editor and publisher for campaign publications that boosted the Campaign. The publications were cited for design excellence by the SC Affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women. During her tenure at Claflin University as Director of Public Relations (1998-2007) and Director of Special Events (2007-2009), she cultivated a USA Today feature story about the Call Me MISTER Teacher Education program at Claflin. The USA Today article caught Oprah Winfrey's attention and as a result, the Oprah Winfrey Angel Network donated $100,000 to the program which helped to reduce the Misters' tuition. At Claflin, Ms. Carter procured the largest single donation ever recorded of African art and artifacts (150 pieces) from a private collector housed in the Arthur Rose Museum. Prior her entry to higher education, Ms. Carter coordinated televised pay-per-view boxing bouts and managed the offices for the late sports promoter Butch Lewis (1993-1997) and boxing legend Michael Spinx. Ms. Carter is a member of the Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Ms. Carter enjoys the Smokey Mountains and unabashedly loves and cares for the canine species.
"It's simple, I have a moral and ethical obligation to serve a mission that serves humanity". Helene Carter
NOTICE TO THE PAINE COLLEGE COMMUNITY
Effective January 31, 2023, Ms. Cinderella Walker, longtime employee and colleague, resigned her position as Director of Gifts, Acknowledgements and Database Management. Currently, Ms. Wanda Brock is serving temporarily in this role. Please contact Ms. Brock at 706.821.8338 or via email: wbrock@barbarastennis.com. Thank you for your continued support of Paine College.