Pro Feet, Inc. of Burlington was named Alamance Community College’s 2014 Business Partner of the Year by the ACC Foundation for its outstanding support to students and graduates. The announcement was made during the annual Public Officials’ Breakfast at the College on Dec. 3.
Pro Feet, Inc. is a privately held company based in Burlington, NC. Founded in 1979 under the name of Volunteer Hosiery by Russell R. Wilson, the company changed its name in 1983 to Pro Feet, Inc. Today it services the sock and hosiery needs of athletic teams, the U.S. military, and public safety employees.
To qualify for this award, a business partner must support the College in the following: Number and quality of volunteers provided to ACC; opportunities provided by the business for current ACC students such as co-ops and clinical sites; number of ACC graduates hired by the business annually; and level of philanthropic support of the ACC Foundation and ACC.
Pro Feet, Inc. fulfilled the criteria of the award with the following:
- Pro Feet, Inc. has been significantly supportive of ACC for decades, giving steadily since 1992.
- Pro Feet’s gifts to the ACC Foundation to date total nearly $50,000. Through the last few years of the recession, it gave unrestricted cash gifts of $5,000 annually, helping ACC and the ACC Foundation through a most difficult time.
- As a result of a significant commitment to the 2008 Anniversary Campaign, the ACC Foundation honored Pro Feet’s original owner with a named classroom.
- Pro Feet is a significant collaborative partner with the College. Of its employees, three are ACC graduates. In addition to these, others have taken classes at ACC over the years through a tuition reimbursement program. Thus, 69% of Pro Feet employees have an affiliation with ACC.
- Pro Feet’s terms of volunteer service with the College has been significant: original owner, Russell Wilson, joined the ACC Foundation board in 1995, and served as president for four years. He chaired various fundraising campaigns and key committees, including the College’s 40th anniversary campaign, where he raised $40,000 from 25 companies for a total of $1 million in endowed funds. Over the years he raised in excess of $2 million. During the height of the recession, when the College needed additional parking, Wilson secured a six figure reduction in price on the property at the corner of the interstate and Jimmie Kerr Road. Wilson also served on the ACC Board of Trustees for 15 years, beginning in 1998, including two years as Chair.
