The N.C. State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences recently nominated Golden LEAF for the National Agricultural Alumni Development Association (NAADA) Corporate Partner award in recognition of the Foundation’s work to fund innovations to address hard-to-solve economic and agricultural issues. This award recognizes a company or private entity for their contributions to support agriculture or land grant universities and recognizes advocacy for agriculture and natural resources.
Golden LEAF is the second recipient to be selected for this award and the first recipient from North Carolina.
“Golden LEAF is honored to be chosen for this year’s National Agricultural Alumni Development Association Corporate Partner Award,” said Golden LEAF Board Chair Bo Biggs. “One of our goals is to support agriculture research and innovations to grow the industry. Partnerships like this benefit farmers so agriculture remains the state’s top industry.”
Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton (left) cuts the ribbon for the N.C. Food Innovation Lab along with other partners on the project in November 2019
NAADA provides education, support, and recognition for professionals and volunteers dedicated to expanding resources for advancing agriculture and related disciplines through land-grant and other colleges of agricultural sciences and partner programs. Golden LEAF was nominated for its collaboration with N.C. State and its commitment to the Plant Sciences Initiative, the N.C. Food Innovation Lab, and other agriculture programs that support North Carolina’s farmers and agribusiness.
“We are honored to accept the National Agricultural Alumni Development Association Corporate Partner Award,” said Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton. “Golden LEAF is proud to support N.C. farmers through innovative research programs at N.C. State. This land grant university produces practical applications to grow the agricultural industry and North Carolina’s economy.”
The Corporate Partner Award is a new award by NAADA that was started in 2019. Golden LEAF’s mission to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship and its focus on rural and tobacco-dependent communities made it a natural fit to be nominated, according to Richard Linton, the dean of N.C. State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
“I want to thank Golden LEAF for its long-standing philanthropic support in establishing North Carolina as the industry leader in agricultural innovation and giving our students and farmers a competitive edge in a global market,” Linton said.
Joining Linton in nominating Golden LEAF for the Corporate Partner Award were Steve Lommel, an associate dean at N.C. State, and Sonia Murphy, the assistant dean of college advancement.
For additional information on NAADA, click here.