Skip to main content

Prestage family donates 200 turkeys as part of N.C. State fundraising challenge

The second annual “Recent Grad Holiday Turkey Challenge,” a fundraising campaign led by the North Carolina State University Annual Giving Program, brought in $28,056 for the university, as well as 200 turkeys for those in need.

Here’s how the challenge worked: If at least 375 recent N.C. State graduates made a gift to the university between Nov. 19 and Dec. 19, the Prestage family – who endowed the Department of Poultry Science last year with a $10 million gift – would donate 200 turkeys to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

The turkey challenge was a big success, with participation by 441 donors, up from 328 last year. An alumni task force led the campaign, using email, social media and phone calls to secure the donations.

The Food Bank distributed the turkeys to area agencies, including soup kitchens, churches and shelters.

Katie Prestage with N.C. State Poultry Science students
Katie Prestage (in blue top) gathers with N.C. State Poultry Science students (from left to right) Wil Talley, Adam Barnhardt, Paige Fields and Susan Collins for the turkey delivery at the Food Bank.