DCCC receives largest-ever gift

The Business Journal

November 22, 2011

A $7.5 million bequest to Davidson County Community College  from the late Christine Harris is the largest-ever gift for that school and one of the biggest single donations to any North Carolina community college, according to an announcement from the DCCC Foundation.

The school did not specify a use for the money in the announcement, but President Mary Rittling said it will be "cause for thanksgiving for years to come" and pledged to put it to "excellent use."

Harris, who died in August at the age of 87, was the daughter-in-law of William F. Harris, one of the first executives to lead Lexington Telephone Co. beginning in 1905. Lexington Telephone later became Lexcom Communications, which was acquired last year by Windstream.

The company and the Harris family have been longtime supporters of DCCC through scholarship funds and other contributions. However, the school was unaware of her plans to make such a large donation in her will, according to the announcement.