GREENVILLE, N.C. (Tuesday, February 1, 2022) — Perdue Farms is lending support for Vidant Health Foundation’s HomeGrown Program with a $20,000 grant funded through its Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation. Through the Homegrown Program at the Greenville, N.C.-based hospital, team members find a work-life balance enabling them to return to school while working 20 hours a week and keeping full-time salary and benefits.

The donation from Perdue’s charitable giving arm is part of the company’s “Delivering Hope to Our Neighbors^®” initiative focused on improving quality of life and building strong communities.

“Hospitals depend on a variety of disciplines – doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, therapists – to provide patient care,” said Crystal Corbett, Vidant Health Foundation development officer. “The health-care industry is being impacted by a national shortage of nurses and, as a result, Vidant Health is implementing the HomeGrown Program to help alleviate this problem. The program supports current team members who are first-time college students pursuing an associate or bachelor of science degree in nursing while maintaining full-time employment.”

Sixteen of 26 applicants were admitted to the program in 2021. A recent HomeGrown program graduate, Michelle Smith, said without the program, she could not have furthered her education.

“I was a single mom when I started nursing school, so I didn’t have the option of not being able to work,” Smith said. “I also knew what I wanted to do. It gave me so many opportunities, and I love my job. It allowed me to not only get through school but to stay with Vidant.”

Corbett said Vidant will offer the program in more locations.

“Initially this program was only offered at Vidant Medical Center, but now we plan to expand it to the remaining eight Vidant community hospitals located throughout rural eastern North Carolina,” she said. “Funds received from the Perdue Foundation will be used to support the advancement of wages and maintain full-time benefits for team members attending nursing school. This financial support assists the team member to be present both at school and home and maintain financial stability for their family.”

Having work-life balance and financial security greatly increases team members’ chances to succeed and their ability to markedly improve their families’ income, explains Corbett. Their completion of the program adds a nurse to Vidant Health, helping it care for the patients, families and communities it serves, she said.

She added that funds from Perdue will offset expenses from sponsoring 16 program participants in the 2021-2022 school year. The cost ranges from $15,000 to $25,000 per student annually.

“The nursing shortage is a real issue – especially in rural communities like those served by Vidant Health,” said Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation. “We at Perdue appreciate the homegrown concept of this program and wanted to help our neighbors get the education they need to address the nursing shortage. We are so very grateful to all medical professionals and first responders and are honored to help some achieve their dream of joining the nursing profession.”

About the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation
The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. As part of our belief in supporting the communities where and with whom we do business, the Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of our associates live and work. At Perdue Farms, we believe in responsible food and agriculture^®.

About Perdue Farms
We’re a fourth-generation, family-owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers, and farmers through trusted choices in products and services.

The premium protein portfolio within our Perdue Foods business, including our flagship PERDUE® brand, Niman Ranch®, Panorama Organic Grass-Fed Meats®, Coleman Natural®, and Yummy®, as well as our pet brands, Spot Farms® and Full Moon®, is available through various channels including retail, foodservice, club stores, and our direct-to-consumer website, PerdueFarms.com. 

Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company.  

Now in our company’s second century, our path forward is about getting better, not just bigger. We never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever chicken, turkey, pork, beef and lamb, and in USDA-certified organic chicken and beef. Learn more at Corporate.PerdueFarms.com.