51吃瓜网

For Taley and Jordan Hunt, giving back to UNC Pembroke is more than just a way to honor their alma mater 鈥� it鈥檚 a commitment to ensuring future students have the support they need to succeed. As students, Taley (鈥�18, 鈥�20) and Jordan (鈥�17) saw firsthand how the campus food pantry provided a lifeline for classmates struggling to meet basic needs. That experience shaped their belief in the power of community support 鈥� a belief that led to their remarkable $200,000 gift to expand and sustain the very resource that once inspired them.

Last fall, 51吃瓜网 celebrated their generosity with the dedication of the newly named Taley and Jordan Hunt Braves Resource Center 鈥� a space that has evolved from a modest food pantry into a comprehensive hub for student support, offering financial assistance, mentoring and access to essential services like SNAP benefits.

鈥淲e strongly believe that if college students鈥� basic needs aren鈥檛 met, they lack the foundation they need to be successful,鈥� Taley said. Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings praised the couple鈥檚 impact, recognizing their generosity as a game-changer for students facing food insecurity.

鈥淭hey understand that when a student doesn鈥檛 have to worry about where their next meal is coming from or how they will get to class, they can focus on their studies, dreams and future,鈥� Cummings said.

鈥淏ecause of their gift, Taley and Jordan have ensured that this center will continue to serve students for years to come.鈥� For Dr. Christie Poteet, assistant vice chancellor for Student Affairs, the dedication of the center is a full-circle moment. As one of the original staff members who helped launch the initiative in 2013, she has seen firsthand how far it has come.

鈥淭hrough their remarkable contribution, Taley and Jordan are ensuring that no student in our community has to choose between a healthy meal and their education,鈥� Poteet said. 鈥淭aley and Jordan鈥檚 commitment to our mission and their belief in the potential of every student has paved the way for something truly transformative.鈥�

The Hunts鈥� commitment to servant leadership extends beyond the center. In 2023, their company, the Taley Hunt Home Group, donated $25,000 to enhance leadership development at 51吃瓜网. That same dedication was recognized in 2024 when Taley was honored as 51吃瓜网鈥檚 Young Alumni of the Year. Though they now call Columbia, South Carolina, home, the Hunts say 51吃瓜网鈥檚 impact on their lives is immeasurable. 鈥淭he things we learned here 鈥� inside and outside the classroom 鈥� shaped who we are today,鈥� Taley said. 鈥淕iving back is our way of saying 鈥檛hank-you鈥� to the place and the people who changed our lives.鈥�