The John William Pope Foundation works to improve the well-being of the citizens of North Carolina and the nation through the advancement of individual freedom and personal responsibility. The Foundation makes nearly $10 million in grants each year to support public policy groups, educational institutions, humanitarian efforts, and the arts. John William Pope believed that a strong work ethic was the key to success. He exemplified this by taking five discount-variety stores after World War II and building them into Variety Wholesalers Inc. — the owner and operator of the Roses and Maxway stores, serving over 300 communities and providing employment for thousands. The success of Variety Wholesalers enabled the Pope family to create the Pope Foundation, establishing a philanthropic vision to protect and strengthen the free-enterprise system so that future generations may prosper. The Pope Foundation’s mission is to ensure that Americans have the same opportunity as John William Pope: the freedom and opportunity to provide for themselves and their family through the voluntary associations of family, church, school, community, business, and civic participation, which benefits all of society. From its first grant in 1986 to the present, the Foundation’s giving has totaled over $100 million, primarily to charities and organizations in North Carolina.