Window World’s MerleFest Sponsorship Helps Fund New Wilkes Community College Health Sciences Center

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Window World®, America’s largest replacement window and exterior

remodeling company, signed on as the presenting sponsor of MerleFest, one of the premier music

festivals in the country, for 2016. As the primary fundraising event for Wilkes Community College

Endowment Corporation (WCCEC), which works to raise funds for Wilkes Community College (WCC),

MerleFest, in conjunction with Window World, will aid in improvement efforts for the college’s new

health sciences center.

Given their shared home of Wilkes County, North Carolina, the Window World and MerleFest

partnership has been a natural fit. 2015 marked the first year Window World participated as the

festival’s highest level sponsor, and its commitment to serve in this capacity through 2020 solidifies

its continued support of WCCEC to provide state‐of‐the‐art resources to students and the

community.

The health sciences center, Herring Hall, brings together the college’s curriculum and continuing

education health sciences programs, creating an integrated training environment. The new facility

will benefit 356 full‐time students and 97 continuing‐education students this year alone.

Additionally, Herring Hall provides WCC with cutting‐edge technology, facilitating programs like the

Cooperative Learning Simulation Skills Training.

“Throughout the year, Window World invests time and resources to assist non‐profits across the

country,” said Window World Chairman and CEO, Tammy Whitworth. “With over 200 store locations

nationwide, the entire Window World family is committed to supporting local causes. We are

overjoyed to do our part to help the WCCEC provide this innovative center to the community.”

The WCCEC is currently in a five‐year capital campaign, raising funds for Herring Hall. The total

project is estimated to cost $6.2 million. As part of the campaign’s financial plan, MerleFest will

contribute a total of $1.75 million to the project. Window World’s presenting sponsorship of the

festival helps make this a reality.

MerleFest 2016, scheduled for April 28 – May 1, will bring nearly 80,000 national and international

music enthusiasts to the WCC campus. Known for its unique blend of styles – traditional, bluegrass,

old‐time, Americana, blues, country and more – MerleFest delivers Music, Moments and Memories.

This year, Brandi Carlile, Tim O’Brien and Sam Bush are just some of the talented professionals set to

perform as part of the festival’s elite lineup.

“The ongoing success of Wilkes Community College and its students depends on support from

community partners. Window World has proven its commitment to WCC and its students time and

time again. Its contribution has helped us to incorporate the latest technology into Herring Hall,

providing an improved teaching and learning environment for students and faculty,” said Allison

Phillips, executive director of the Wilkes Community College Endowment Corporation. “Additionally,

the Window World family has shown tremendous support of MerleFest through participation and

volunteerism. We are proud that Window World is such a committed partner and friend to our

college.”

View the entire MerleFest program at www.MerleFest.org/Lineup. Tickets for the event may be

purchased at www.MerleFest.org or by calling 1‐800‐343‐7857.

About Window World

Window World®, headquartered in North Wilkesboro, N.C., is America’s largest replacement window and

exterior remodeling company, with more than 200 locally‐owned offices nationwide. Founded in 1995,

the company sells and installs windows, siding, doors and other exterior products, with a total of over 10

million windows sold to date. Window World is an ENERGY STAR® partner and its window products have

earned the Good Housekeeping Seal for eight consecutive years. Additionally, through its charitable

foundation Window World Cares®, the Window World family provides funding for St. Jude Children’s

Research Hospital®, where it was named New Corporate Partner of the Year in 2010. Since its inception

in 2008, the foundation has raised over $5.6 million for St. Jude. Window World, Inc. also supports the

Veterans Airlift Command, a non‐profit organization that facilitates free air transportation to wounded

veterans and their families. To begin your exterior remodeling project today, visit

www.WindowWorld.com or call 1‐800 NEXT WINDOW. For home improvement and energy efficiency tips,

décor ideas and more, following Window World on Facebook and Twitter.