DURHAM - The owner of Mad Hatter's Cafe and Bake Shop in Durham has donated $200,000 to help endow the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership, the university announced Monday.

Grace Ann Nordhoff, a 1982 Duke graduate, lived, studied and worked in Durham for more than 20 years before returning to her hometown of Seattle. She continues to manage Mad Hatter's. In 2005, she joined the neighborhood partnership's Board of Advisors.

Nordhoff co-founded the bake shop in 1994. Now located adjacent to Duke's East Campus, the eatery is a popular destination for members of the Duke and Durham communities.

Established in 1996, the partnership is a collaboration between Duke and 12 neighborhoods and eight public schools near Duke's campus. It focuses on improving schools, housing and community organizations. It also operates health clinics and encourages local community service among Duke students.

Last year, a campaign was launched to build a permanent fund to support the partnership. Nordhoff's is the third major gift toward the endowment.

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