Ausie & Martin Rivens Scholarship Foundation/ Resource Center
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UPS Foundation Partners with Local Nonprofit to Create Six Resource Centers
$20,000 Donation to Purchase Chromebooks for CMS Students
The UPS Foundation has partnered with the Ausie Rivens Scholarship Foundation (ARSF) to create Resource Centers to assist students who have have experienced hardship due to remote learning. A donation of $20,000 was presented to ARSF, which will purchase chromebooks to create learning centers for students, Grades 3-12. Join us for the presentation on September 11, 2020 at 12:00pm, McCrorey YMCA, 3801 Beatties Ford Rd. Retired educators and volunteers will staff the Centers and will be available Monday through Saturday beginning October 1st. The six locations for the centers are McCrorey YMCA, Stratford Richardson YMCA, CN Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian, Greenville Memorial AME Zion, Rockwell AME Zion and Macedonia Baptist.
Remote learning created by the impact of COVID 19 has resulted in additional challenges for our students. UPS Northeast Division Manager Henry Beards says that UPS CEO Carol Tome’ has committed to one million UPS volunteer hours of service around the world in support of mentorship, life skills and educational programming in underserved Black communities. The UPS African American Business Group will mentor and support virtual learning at the six locations. Beard added that “support of the Resource Centers is just one method of providing assistance to ensure students have the tools needed to keep up with their school’s curriculum. Thank you to the Charlotte community for uniting in this effort to support some critical needs for our kids.”
$20,000 Donation to Purchase Chromebooks for CMS Students
The UPS Foundation has partnered with the Ausie Rivens Scholarship Foundation (ARSF) to create Resource Centers to assist students who have have experienced hardship due to remote learning. A donation of $20,000 was presented to ARSF, which will purchase chromebooks to create learning centers for students, Grades 3-12. Join us for the presentation on September 11, 2020 at 12:00pm, McCrorey YMCA, 3801 Beatties Ford Rd. Retired educators and volunteers will staff the Centers and will be available Monday through Saturday beginning October 1st. The six locations for the centers are McCrorey YMCA, Stratford Richardson YMCA, CN Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian, Greenville Memorial AME Zion, Rockwell AME Zion and Macedonia Baptist.
Remote learning created by the impact of COVID 19 has resulted in additional challenges for our students. UPS Northeast Division Manager Henry Beards says that UPS CEO Carol Tome’ has committed to one million UPS volunteer hours of service around the world in support of mentorship, life skills and educational programming in underserved Black communities. The UPS African American Business Group will mentor and support virtual learning at the six locations. Beard added that “support of the Resource Centers is just one method of providing assistance to ensure students have the tools needed to keep up with their school’s curriculum. Thank you to the Charlotte community for uniting in this effort to support some critical needs for our kids.”

The Ausie Rivens Scholarship Foundation was established in 2004 in honor of the first Black barber in Cornelius, NC. The foundation is located at 20805 Catawba Avenue, where the original barbershop was built in the late 1950s. Rivens, the father of 12, began his career as a barber by cutting the hair of family members and white neighbors in his front yard. In addition to working as a barber, Rivens was a tenant farmer. As his clients increased, Rivens relocated his business to other locations: Clarence Cornelius' barbershop and the Smithville Community Center.
Shortly after his job at Frank Mills, Rivens had an opportunity to build his own barbershop and diner, which is where the current barbershop is located. (The original structure was demolished and rebuilt in 2003.) In addition to his business on Catawba Avenue, Rivens worked as a janitor at Cornelius Elementary School. Many Cornelius citizens, black and white, are familiar with Rivens and he mentored many of the current barbers still active in the area. Rivens was well known and admired for his hard work and for his concern for the community.
The Rivens' Little Free Pantry, launched in August 2020 at 20805 Catawba Ave, is named in memory of Ausie and Martin Rivens. Martin Rivens, a Smithville native and an all-star baseball player at Gardner Webb University, died suddenly on July 16, 2020. Rivens, the Executive Director of the nonprofit, says she launched the Pantry as a tool to cope with the family's loss. Martin most recently worked at The Pines in Davidson and was loved dearly. "Many people are struggling for basic necessities right now yet the community support and concern for our loss was overwhelming. The Little Free Pantry is one method to support our community, which showed so much love and support for us during a really difficult time." The 501c3 will be renamed to the Ausie and Martin Rivens Scholarship Foundation.
Shortly after his job at Frank Mills, Rivens had an opportunity to build his own barbershop and diner, which is where the current barbershop is located. (The original structure was demolished and rebuilt in 2003.) In addition to his business on Catawba Avenue, Rivens worked as a janitor at Cornelius Elementary School. Many Cornelius citizens, black and white, are familiar with Rivens and he mentored many of the current barbers still active in the area. Rivens was well known and admired for his hard work and for his concern for the community.
The Rivens' Little Free Pantry, launched in August 2020 at 20805 Catawba Ave, is named in memory of Ausie and Martin Rivens. Martin Rivens, a Smithville native and an all-star baseball player at Gardner Webb University, died suddenly on July 16, 2020. Rivens, the Executive Director of the nonprofit, says she launched the Pantry as a tool to cope with the family's loss. Martin most recently worked at The Pines in Davidson and was loved dearly. "Many people are struggling for basic necessities right now yet the community support and concern for our loss was overwhelming. The Little Free Pantry is one method to support our community, which showed so much love and support for us during a really difficult time." The 501c3 will be renamed to the Ausie and Martin Rivens Scholarship Foundation.
Mission: To empower area youth by providing life skills workshops, promoting continued education and providing educational and financial assistance for future employment skills and entrepreneurial success.
Eligibility Requirements:
Application Procedure:
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be enrolled and accepted at an accredited College/University
- Must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5
- Must submit a complete Ausie Rivens Scholarship application
- Must enroll at least half-time per semester and successfully complete classes registered for
Application Procedure:
- Funds will be awarded upon notification from the Ausie Rivens Scholarship Committee Executive Director
- Dropping below half time enrollment may result in reduction or cancellation of the scholarship award
- Students on academic probation may not be eligible to receive the Ausie Rivens Scholarship
- All questions regarding the Ausie Rivens Scholarship may be directed to rivensscholarship@gmail.com or at 704.493.4955.
- Return Scholarship Applications to: Ausie Rivens Scholarship - 20805 Catawba Avenue - Cornelius, NC 28031
Board Members
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Scholarship Recipients
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