DR. CLOSE'S LEGACY Growing up in rural North Carolina, Dr. Gloria Webb Close was among the first generation of her family to attend college. Dr. Close's dedication to her education led her to graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State, and attend Harvard University's Management Development Program. Dr. Close's passion for education and community service has had a profound impact on Spartanburg's youth. Her role as Executive Director of Citizen Scholars, an initiative of The Spartanburg County Foundation that provides deserving youth with mentoring and program support designed to help college attainment, has impacted hundreds of students in every school district in Spartanburg county.
Honoring Dr. Gloria Close The Spartanburg County Foundation is fortunate to work with amazing organizations, donors, and community leaders. Dr. Gloria Close is one such leader who’s passionate work highlighting and addressing the needs of the under-served in the community has left a lasting impact on Spartanburg. Dr. Close is celebrating her retirement after decades of service to the community and as the leader of Foundation initiative, Citizen Scholars, we honor and celebrate her amazing accomplishments. The Spartanburg County Foundation | 2020 Annual Report
During her tenure as Executive Director, Dr. Close has continued the program's vision and mission: "To provide disadvantaged youth, through mentoring and program support, with the life skills, knowledge, and character development needed to obtain college scholarships, complete college, and become contributing citizens." Dr. Close relates to the underprivileged students, drawing on her own experiences of growing up in poverty, while her warm and compassionate personality helps them feel accepted and appreciated. This unique ability allowed her to grow the Citizen Scholars initiative from 59 students to 300 students per year across all seven school districts.
WORKING WITH C.A.S.T. Beyond her involvement with Citizen Scholars, Dr. Close is also the founder of C.A.S.T. (Care, Accept, Share, Teach). This program aims to alleviate poverty by facilitating self-sufficiency. She calls the program "an initiative for the forgotten." She was aware of families living permanently in motels around the country, but it was not until she saw it firsthand as an educator in Spartanburg that she felt she needed to take action locally. C.A.S.T. provides families with groceries and meals, offers a three-week educational summer
camp for children, and assists parents in finding employment and affordable housing. In recognition of her work with C.A.S.T., Dr. Close was the recipient of the 2017 Mary L. Thomas Award for Civic Leadership and Community Change by The Spartanburg County Foundation. "Now I feel more hopeful for the future, for my kids especially... I see a brighter future for them now."
Pauline Morrison A woman helped by Dr. Close and C.A.S.T
Dr. Close's work with C.A.S.T., Citizen Scholars, and many other organizations has had a profound impact on Spartanburg. After decades of giving back, The Spartanburg County Foundation congratulates Dr. Close on her welldeserved retirement. She plans to enjoy this new chapter by spending more time with her husband of 43 years, Lee, their two children, two in-law children, and five amazing grandchildren.
Honoring Dr. Gloria Close
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