December 4, 2018 – Ettrick, Va. — Virginia State University is pleased to announce a $25,000 donation from the Smithfield Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Smithfield Foods, Inc., to fund student scholarships. Since 2016, Smithfield has donated $75,000 for scholarships at Virginia State University, providing support to more than 30 students.
“The faculty, staff and students of Virginia State University are appreciative and thankful for the generous donation from Smithfield Foods,” said Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D., president of Virginia State University. “A higher education opens the doors of opportunities for young men and women and it’s our job to make sure those doors of opportunities are always open.”
Smithfield’s partnership with Virginia State University also includes the ongoing support of Michael D. Flemming, vice president and general counsel for Smithfield Foods, who serves on the Virginia State University Board of Visitors.
“Our company has a long history of supporting educational opportunities in our local communities and we are proud of our continued partnership with Virginia State University,” said Keira Lombardo, senior vice president of corporate affairs for Smithfield Foods and president of the Smithfield Foundation. “We are honored to once again provide these scholarships to support students pursuing higher education.”
Photo caption: Vice President and General Counsel for Smithfield Foods Mr. Michael D. Flemming (center) and Virginia State University President (VSU) Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D. (far right) take a photo with some of VSU students who are Smithfield scholarship recipients.
About Virginia State University
Virginia State University is a public, comprehensive 1890 Land Grant institution and a historically black university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The University is committed to the preparation of a diverse population of men and women through the advancement of academic programs and services that integrate instruction, research, extension, and outreach. The University endeavors to meet the educational needs of students, graduating lifelong learners who are well equipped to serve their communities as informed citizens, globally competitive leaders, and highly effective, ethical professionals.
About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan’s Famous®, Farmland®, Armour®, Farmer John®, Kretschmar®, John Morrell®, Cook’s®, Gwaltney®, Carando®, Margherita®, Curly’s®, Healthy Ones®, Morliny®, Krakus® and Berlinki®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
