PEMBROKE, N.C., April 7 -- The University of North Carolina at Pembroke issued the following news release:

As UNC Pembroke prepares to break ground on its new Clinical Sciences Building this Friday, April 10, major funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation is helping shape the future of healthcare in southeastern North Carolina.

Golden LEAF has awarded $4,864,368 to support the UNCP College of Optometric Medicine, funding critical clinical and training lab equipment to enable hands-on learning and advanced technology-based patient care.

The College of Optometric Medicine will be housed in the university's new $96 million, 74,000-square-foot Clinical Sciences Building and will feature advanced clinical training labs, simulation spaces and p...