Retired Educators Invest in Local Businesses Through Sponsorship

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A group of retired educators is investing in small business growth in Burke County.

The Burke County Retired School Personnel organization donated a $1,000 sponsorship to the Western Piedmont Foundation of Western Piedmont Community College for the Elevate Burke business pitch competition organized by the college’s Small Business Center.

The SBC has been accepting applications for the competition this spring from small business owners in Burke County or those who intend to start a business in Burke County. Those chosen as finalists will participate in a free, three-day pitch workshop this summer, which will prepare them to pitch their business idea to a panel of judges. The winner will receive a cash prize to invest in their business idea or expand their existing business.

The Burke County Retired School Personnel members heard about Elevate Burke from Mackenzie Bostian Adams, executive director of the Western Piedmont Foundation, during a presentation to the group at its meeting April 28, and decided on the spot to sponsor the competition.

BCRSP has a long history in the area going back to the early 1900s, according to Sylvia Medford, the organization’s president. The group’s mission, in line with the state-affiliated NCRSP, is to “champion the quality of life for retired school system members.”

“We represent all educational facilities in Burke County,” Medford said. “We work on behalf of both certified and non-certified titled members. We especially work with legislators to improve our health and financial welfare.”

The 60-plus members are dedicated to serving the local community in a variety of ways, including providing treats for local teachers, assisting with testing in the schools and donating to the Foundation for Public School Children.

The group meets at 11 a.m. on the fourth Monday of the months of February, April, June, August and October at Timberwoods Restaurant in Morganton and encourages all retired Burke County Public Schools personnel to join. Membership criteria include:

  • Current or former residency in North Carolina
  • At least 45 years of age
  • Employed for at least five years in a public school, college or university as a teacher, support personnel or administrator
  • Eligible to receive a pension from an educational employment retirement system or Social Security
  • No longer working for a public school or have returned to work as a qualifying retired employee or retired as part of an early retirement agreement.

BCRSP joins fellow sponsors McCabe’s Tire and Service Center and Morganton Natural Foods. Collectively, they are providing a $1,150 cash prize for the winner of Elevate Burke.

“The donation from the Burke County Retired School Personnel will help build economic stability for Burke County by helping a new or existing small business to develop into a thriving economic driver for the county,” said Lily Laramie, WPCC Small Business Center director.

To learn more about the Elevate Burke business pitch competition, visit wpcc.edu/sbc or call the SBC at 828-448-6719.

To learn more about the Burke County Retired School Personnel group, contact Sylvia Medford, president, at 828-390-9773 or sap.mford@gmail.com; or Jackie Ward, membership chair, at 828-437-1564 or jlvdward@bellsouth.net.