The Coastal Educational Foundation (CEF) has received a pledge of $25,000 from the recently organized Georgetown Baptist Historical Society to establish a church history fund.

The new fund, which was formed to study religious freedom in South Carolina, will focus on the 300-year history of the First Baptist Church in Georgetown. Coastal Carolina University professor Roy Talbert will head the project to research and write the church history to coincide with the anniversary celebration in the fall of 2010.

Talbert, longtime history professor and a noted author of numerous books, including authored "Coastal Carolina University: The First 50 Years," the official history of the institution.

CEF was formed in 1954 as a nonprofit institution for the purpose of fundraising for Coastal Carolina University. The foundation's board of directors primarily comprises business and community leaders from the University's designated service area.