News Articles

August 17, 2007

Unique gifts of land to College create education, conservation opportunities

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, N.C. State University, has received four donations of land valued collectively at more than $20 million. Located in Brunswick, Chatham and New Hanover counties, the land will be used by the College for education and conservation purposes.

"We are extremely grateful for the generosity and tremendous vision of these donors," said Dean Johnny Wynne, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. "Their exceptional gifts will create new learning opportunities for our students and faculty, will allow our Extension and youth programs to grow and will protect valued land for North Carolinians to enjoy for generations to come."

In Chatham County Alan and Holland Gaines join Dean Johnny Wynne to donate land and scholarship endowment gifts to the College.

A unique gift in Chatham County will enable learning and conservation opportunities along the Jordan Lake watershed.

The owners of The Legacy at Jordan Lake, LLC, a property development company in Chapel Hill, donated nearly 11 acres to the College. Valued at $1.5 million, the land will be used as an environmental learning laboratory by the College's Agricultural Education Program, the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, the North Carolina FFA Association and Chatham County Schools.

The company, led by brothers Holland and Alan Gaines, also provided the lead gift of $20,000 toward the creation of an endowment to establish three scholarships and an internship that will provide enhanced educational opportunities for high school students in Chatham County Schools.

"We hope that this gift provides students with unique, hands-on learning opportunities that will complement their classroom experience," said Holland Gaines, president of The Legacy at Jordan Lake and a former FFA member. "This fits right in with our philosophy for developing The Legacy, and we're excited about it."

- Suzanne Stanard