For Pam Jones ’78, Adding Textiles to Her Estate Plan Just Made Sense

When Pam Jones arrived on NC State’s campus in the fall of 1974, she carried a deep desire to pursue a career in textiles. What she didn’t have was the certainty that college would be possible for her financially.

That changed the moment she opened a letter announcing she had received a scholarship to the then College of Textiles.

“I came to NC State and the College of Textiles on a scholarship myself,” Jones says. “I can still remember the feelings I had that somebody believed in me enough and valued my hard work.”

For Jones, that single act of generosity was far more than financial relief. It was encouragement. It was validation. It was someone saying, “You belong here.”

That support helped her show up fully as a student, a leader and later as a professional. It also sparked the gratitude that continues to guide her philanthropy today.

“I came to NC State and the College of Textiles on a scholarship myself. I can still remember the feelings I had that somebody believed in me enough and valued my hard work.”

As an undergraduate student, Jones earned a place on the Dean’s List each semester and participated in several student organizations, including Kappa Tau Beta, Phi Psi and Sigma Tau Sigma. She credits her success to the nurturing atmosphere she found in Nelson Hall.

“I arrived at State to find this wonderful and warm community of faculty and staff,” she says. “They were incredibly caring, which they still are today, and you really do feel like you’re part of a family. My experience at NC State continues to inspire me.”

A career built on a strong foundation

The confidence Jones gained as a student carried her well beyond commencement.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in textile science and engineering in 1978, she launched her career in Atlanta at Collins & Aikman, an automotive interior supplier, where she served as a sales district manager. Jones later joined Knoll, a leader in commercial design and furnishings. There, she rose from account representative to regional manager and ultimately vice president of sales for the company’s southern division. In that role, Jones oversaw more than $200 million dollars in sales across 15 states and five regions.

“The Wilson College of Textiles gave me the launching foundation for a very successful career in the textile industry and then in the furniture industry,” she explains. “I loved the work, and I was able to be well compensated.”

Before retiring in 2023, Jones worked for over 14 years as the development director for the Community Assistance Center, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing homelessness and hunger in Georgia.

Her work in this role offered Jones a firsthand view of philanthropy’s ripple effects in the lives of families and communities.

Paying it forward through a planned gift

Jones always knew she wanted to give future students the same chance she had been given.

Her first gifts to NC State were annual contributions to scholarship funds held within the North Carolina Textile Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Wilson College of Textiles. But as she explored other giving opportunities, she realized a planned gift was the best way to make a sustained and meaningful impact.

“When I was presented with the opportunity to make a planned gift, it was the perfect fit for me,” Jones explains. “I was still looking forward to paying for two boys’ college education and taking care of my future needs in retirement, so the idea of a deferred gift was crucial.”

In 2014, she established the Pamela Gayle Jones Endowed Centennial Scholarship, and nine years later, she expanded her gift to better support scholars and the funding required for a truly once-in-a-lifetime educational experience.

Jones did this by creating an IRA trust naming the North Carolina Textile Foundation as a beneficiary. This method offered tax advantages during her income-earning years while also allowing her to continue building net worth.

“When we have gifts to share, it’s comforting to know that the plan will make things easier when we’re gone. The Wilson College of Textiles is a blessing in my life and has been since I stepped on campus that first year. I’m excited that my gift will be a blessing for so many others in the future.”

“It’s been a simple tool for me to ensure the gift to the college, as well as take care of my children and other beneficiaries upon my death,” she explains. “Knowing that my gift will continue to give after I am gone, and that it wasn’t just a one-time, one-student impact, was very important and inspiring to me.”

Today, Jones is a member of NC State’s Pullen Society, which honors donors who choose to support the university through deferred or estate gifts. Her favorite part of that experience is meeting excited scholarship recipients who validate the many reasons she’s chosen to give back. 

In addition to her philanthropic support, Jones has shared her time and talent in remarkable ways. She’s served on the NC State Board of Visitors, the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors, the North Carolina Textile Foundation Board of Directors, the Park Scholars Selection Committee and the Wolfpack Women in Philanthropy Committee. Each role reflects her deep desire to give back to the community that shaped her life and career.

“When we have gifts to share, it’s comforting to know that the plan will make things easier when we’re gone,” she shares. “The Wilson College of Textiles is a blessing in my life and has been since I stepped on campus that first year. I’m excited that my gift will be a blessing for so many others in the future. That’s the inspiration. That’s why I do it.” 

Key takeaways from the Planned Giving Virtual Town Hall

Jones’s story is one example of how a thoughtful estate plan can create a lasting impact at NC State and the Wilson College of Textiles.

During the Textiles Planned Giving Virtual Town Hall, hosted on Oct. 22, Jones joined Jaclyn Hage, director of philanthropy for the North Carolina Textile Foundation, and Katherine Miller, executive director of planned giving for NC State.

Together, they walked attendees through the “why” and the “how” behind tax-advantaged giving.

“Planned giving is one of the most powerful ways your values and legacy can live on long after you are gone,” Hage said during the virtual event. “When you include the Wilson College of Textiles in your estate plan, you are helping shape the future of textile education, innovation and research for generations to come.”

She added that many donors also use planned giving to honor their family’s Wolfpack story and to amplify the parts of the Wilson College of Textiles that they care about the most. 

“Planned giving is one of the most powerful ways your values and legacy can live on long after you are gone. When you include the Wilson College of Textiles in your estate plan, you are helping shape the future of textile education, innovation and research for generations to come.”

The virtual event offered practical insight into:

• How planned giving works and why donors often choose it to share their family values and interests
• How estate gifts can fuel student scholarships, faculty excellence and transformative learning experiences
• Tax advantages associated with popular giving tools, including IRA trusts and beneficiary designations
• How estate gifts can support specific areas of the college while preserving donor flexibility
• The role of the Pullen Society in stewarding and celebrating legacy donors

To help attendees understand the wide range of available options, Miller guided participants through current and future giving tools. 

“What works best for one person may look completely different for someone else,” she explained. “There are tax-advantaged ways to make gifts today, such as donating appreciated stock or giving through your IRA, as well as planned gift options through your will, trust or beneficiary designations. Our goal is to keep this process simple and supportive.”

Miller emphasized that planned gifts are flexible, non-binding and allow donors to direct their support to the areas that matter most.

“You can always update or change your plans at any time,” she told attendees. “What is most important is allowing us to document your wishes so we can honor your legacy exactly as you intend.”

If you would like to learn more about how planned giving can support your long-term goals and make a difference for future Wilson College of Textiles students, you can contact the North Carolina Textile Foundation at nctextilefoundation@ncsu.edu or watch the full Town Hall recording.