Friday, May 11, 2001

WILMINGTON, NC – The Coleman family, owners of Porta-Nails Inc., has endowed a scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Establishing the Porta-Nails Inc. Scholarship is a demonstration of our belief in the value and importance of education, said Jerry Coleman Sr., Porta-Nails president and a 1956 graduate of Wilmington College (now UNC Wilmington) with an associate’s degree in pre-engineering. Coleman earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at NC State University.

The scholarship is also a way for us to give back to the Cape Fear region, said the company’s executive vice president, Jerry Coleman Jr.

“This region has been good to us – our family and our business,” said Coleman. “It’s important for the business community to support public education. Together, we can make a difference.”

Patton McDowell, vice chancellor for the Division for University Advancement at UNC Wilmington, said the university was honored by the contribution.

“UNCW is grateful for the generosity that the Coleman family has exhibited in committing to endow the Porta-Nails Inc. Scholarship,” said McDowell. “Support for public education from private citizens and the business community is increasingly important in view of the state’s budget concerns.”

The Porta-Nails Scholarship will be a merit-based scholarship and will be open to students majoring in any four-year degree.

Porta-Nails Inc., established in 1979, is a manufacturer of hardwood floor-fastening tools, private label specialty tools and specialty woodworking tools. From its headquarters in Wilmington, the company’s products are distributed throughout North America and Europe.



UNCW requires a minimum donations of $25,000 to endow a scholarship.

For more information, contact Patton McDowell at 910/962-3236 or

Jerry Coleman Jr. at 910/762-6334.