More than 25 teams of golfers and dozens of area sponsors came together in support of local students on Sept. 26 during the 39th annual Education Open Golf Tournament, hosted by the Brookdale Community College Foundation.
The event, held at Eagles Oaks Golf and Country Club, Howell, raised more than $63,000 for the foundation’s “Building Minds, Building Futures” scholarship fund, according to a press release.
“We could not be more grateful to the nearly 200 players, sponsors and volunteers who helped make this tournament a success,” said Timothy Zeiss, executive director of the Brookdale Foundation and Alumni Affairs.
“Their generosity will help the Brookdale Foundation provide hundreds of scholarships this year to deserving local students who are trying to build a better life for themselves and their families,” he said.
The outing featured a full day of golf and skills competitions, followed by a gourmet awards dinner where prizes were awarded for best team score, “closest to the pin” and other achievements, according to the press release.
Attendees were able to bid on dozens of silent and live auction items, including autographed sports memorabilia, exclusive trips and event tickets.
The dinner concluded with a keynote address by scholarship recipient Christine Little, who received disaster relief funding this year to continue studying as her family rebuilds its superstorm Sandy-damaged home in Highlands.
Little, a biology major and aspiring entomologist, said, “I reached out to the foundation, submitted an application and within a week I got a phone call saying my entire tuition and my books would be paid for. I even got extra money for living expenses. It is absolutely amazing, what all of you have made possible for me. Without your help, I would not have been able to follow my dream. Thank you all, so much.”
