As a student service leader in UNC Pembroke’s Office for Community and Civic Engagement (CCE), Taley Hunt ’18, (MBA)’20 was profoundly impacted by the opportunity to give back to others.
“We went out to volunteer, not just in the local community but in the wider world,” said Hunt. “Having those opportunities really shaped the way I view the world. I’ve learned that when you give and are actively involved in your community, people see that and want to align with you.”
Through her company, the Taley Hunt Home Group, Hunt recently made a $25,000 gift to the university to enhance learning opportunities offered by CCE, allowing future students to grow from similar experiences she enjoyed. Hunt, who has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a Master of Business Administration degree, is the youngest UNCP alumna to make a major gift to the university.
A native of Pembroke, Hunt has built a thriving real estate business in the Columbia, SC, area, where she lives with her husband, Jordan, also a proud UNCP alumnus. She has sold more than $58 million worth of real estate since opening her business in 2020.
The lessons she learned in the CCE were foundational as she launched her business during the first months of the COVID pandemic. She and her husband had just moved to Columbia, an area new to the couple.
“There wasn’t a lot of one-on-one, in-person interaction with people at that time,” Hunt said. “So, I tried to foster community creatively online. I leaned on what I learned at UNCP and in the CCE about making connections and finding a way to get involved.”
Sandy Jacobs, director of CCE, said the gift ensures UNCP will continue to be an experiential and service-learning leader.
“This is such a timely gift that will allow us to expand the opportunities we can offer students,” Jacobs said. “Taley’s generosity will provide resources for our students to learn new skill sets, build relationships and create a sense of belonging on our campus and beyond.”
With a business philosophy focused on community engagement and service, Hunt said supporting CCE through this gift was an easy decision.
“I tried to think about what was most impactful for me at UNCP and then how I could pay it forward,” Hunt said. “It was important to me to help future UNCP students. UNCP and the CCE shaped my life, and their values align with my business values. It just makes perfect sense.”
