A Historic Gift from Taste of the South Will Help Children Across North Carolina Dream, Learn, and Thrive

In July, Book Harvest was honored to be the featured charity for the 2025 Taste of the South gala—one of Washington, D.C.’s most beloved philanthropic celebrations of Southern culture, tradition, and community. This year, the event marked its 43rd anniversary, bringing thousands together for an unforgettable evening of food, music, and generosity.

We are overjoyed to share the news that this year's Taste of the South event set fundraising records, raising $1,300,000!

As the 2025 Featured Charity for North Carolina, Book Harvest received a jaw-dropping $413,155.86 to support children’s literacy across the state!

This historic gift will fuel our work to ensure that every child in North Carolina—beginning at birth—can grow up surrounded by books, stories, and possibility.

A Celebration with Purpose

Ginger Young and Benay Hicks proudly represented Book Harvest at the event. Being featured alongside literacy charities from across the South, and recognized as North Carolina’s beneficiary, was an extraordinary honor.

What This Gift Makes Possible

Taste of the South’s generosity will directly support Book Harvest’s statewide early literacy initiatives, including:

✔ Building and growing home libraries for children from birth

✔ Providing families with the resources, tools, and confidence to support their children’s early learning

✔ Ensuring communities across North Carolina—from the mountains to the coast—have access to books that reflect every child’s identity, culture, and imagination

Thousands of children will receive books of their very own thanks to this remarkable investment.

A Legacy of Giving

Since its founding, Taste of the South has donated more than $7 million to nearly 300 charities. This year’s gift marks the event’s greatest impact yet—proof that when a community comes together, big change follows.

We extend our deepest thanks to the volunteers, sponsors, donors, and leadership team at Taste of the South, including Chairman Mary Collins Howell and the 2025 board.

We are grateful. We are inspired. And we are ready to keep dreaming big.