Davidson Community Foundation elects new board members

The Davidson Community Foundation has elected four new members to its board of advisors.

Erin Banks, the CEO and founder of E2E Consulting, has more than 20 years of experience in education. Most recently, she has worked on community initiatives in North Mecklenburg County focused on education, affordable housing and health.

Marc deBree is a managing director at TIAA and head of Real Estate and Alternatives for the company’s General Account, overseeing investments in Commercial, Real Estate, Farmland, Timberland, Infrastructure and Private Equity. He moved to Davidson in 2016 with his wife and three daughters.

Doug Hicks, a member of Davidson College’s class of 1990, returned to his alma mater in 2022 as the college’s 19th President. He joined Davidson from his role as Dean of Oxford College at Emory University. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Jean Spangler is a marketing consultant who moved to Davidson in 2018. She was President of Spangler and Associates Marketing in Charlotte for more than 20 years. Jean is a former board member of Davidson Housing Coalition and is actively involved in social justice issues in the community.

The foundation also elected Chris Ahearn for her second year as board chair, and named Jim Merrifield co-chair, Bob Boyd vice-chair, Ann McCorvey treasurer and James Waddey secretary.

In addition, Davidson Community Foundation is working to help current homeowners in West Davidson remain in homes that are safe and secure. The foundation initially committed to fund up to 10 essential home improvement projects in town; in November, it announced plans to add five more homes to that commitment. The foundation is partnering with the Town of Davidson, Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region, and Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte to complete repairs to 13 homes, with an additional three homes funded by the foundation and Habitat Charlotte Region. Leaders plan to complete 10 projects this year and six in 2025.

“We have raised $86,000 so far, thanks to our generous contributors, but we need more donors to reach our $175,000 goal,” Ahearn said. “That’s a lofty aim, but we know that people in Davidson are willing to reach deep to help their neighbors in need.”