The North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA) hosted the 2024 Bug Cup Charity Golf Tournament on Oct. 1 at Eagle Chase Golf Club in Marshville, N.C. This was the third annual tournament which raises funds for NCPMA charities including the NCPMA Extension Program Endowment in Honor of Dr. Mike Waldvogel at North Carolina State University (NCSU).
In addition, the association hosted a donation drive for supplies for those affected by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. Participants donated items which were loaded onto a trailer for delivery to areas directly impacted by the storm.
“Our hearts are with everyone affected by Hurricane Helene, and we are grateful for the generosity of everyone who acted quickly to participate in our donation drive,” said tournament director Kyle Franklin, Manufacturer Representative for BASF Professional & Specialty Solutions based out of Research Triangle Park.
Syngenta served as the title sponsor for the tournament for the third consecutive year.
More than 100 golfers registered for the tournament, which raised approximately $19,000 to benefit the NCPMA Extension Program Endowment in Honor of Dr. Mike Waldvogel at North Carolina State University (NCSU) and $1,000 for the NC PestVets Chapter to benefit veterans in pest management.
“NCPMA initially set a goal to raise $400,000 for the NCPMA Extension Program Endowment in Honor of Dr. Mike Waldvogel at North Carolina State University by 2024, and we are one step closer to making that a reality thanks to the generous support of the teams and sponsors who participated this year,” Franklin said.
The Endowment supports the ongoing work of NCSU, focusing on supporting positions that directly contribute to the education of the pest management industry. Dr. Waldvogel is a retired Extension Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at NCSU’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology.
Dr. Carolyn Young, Department Head of the NCSU Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, attended and introduced Dr. Christopher Hayes who was recently appointed as the Extension Associate with the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology.
Additional information on the Extension Program Endowment can be found at https://www.ncpestmanagement.org/endowment.