SALISBURY, Md. (Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021) — A $200,000 grant from the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, will help support the construction of the University of Georgia’s new Poultry Science Building in Athens, Ga. which will begin construction in spring 2022.

The $54 million state-of-the-art space will feature facilities and equipment to provide for advanced research to keep Georgia at the forefront of forward-thinking, relevant poultry research, advancing UGA Cooperative Extension and outreach programs within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences(CAES). The project is funded through both state and private support.

“We are honored to be a part of this capital project at UGA that will enhance the study of poultry science and really advance the industry. It will be a beautiful facility with state-of-the-art equipment to draw more students to educate the next generation,” said Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation.

The Perdue gift is part of the company’s “Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors^®” initiative focused on improving quality of life and building stronger communities where Perdue associates live and work and beyond.

Georgia is the nation’s leading poultry-producing state, with the industry representing more than 50 percent of the agricultural income in the state. CAES and the Department of Poultry Science have been symbiotically entwined with the state's robust poultry industry for decades, providing research-based best practices from highly regarded faculty and preparing students to work in and lead the industry.

“Gifts like this one from the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation will help us lead the future of poultry science by igniting industry and driving progress; performing innovative research; recruiting the next generation of poultry leaders; and advancing UGA Extension and outreach programs to ensure the long-term sustainability of poultry as a global food source,” said Todd Applegate, head of the Department of Poultry Science at CAES.

To make a gift to the Poultry Science Building Fund, contact CAES Senior Director of Development Mary Ann Parsons at 706-542-3390 or visit the CAES giving page.

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.