After 30 years, the Foundation of Wayne Community College’s Invitational continues to make a difference in the lives of students.
This year’s event netted $205,500 for tuition scholarships and program and facility enhancements for the college. Those proceeds, a record for the event, brought the three-decade total raised to $2.7 million.
“That’s pretty amazing,” said Foundation of Wayne Community College Executive Director Adrienne Northington. “All of the proceeds have always gone toward student success.”
“It is an honor to be able to help make dreams come true for individuals who want to improve their lots in life,” said Invitational Chair Joe Garner. “Just knowing that the funds we raise through the Invitational assist residents with acquiring the education and training they need to get good jobs or move up in their careers, go to the next level of education, or pursue new interests makes the effort a pleasure. We are funding student success.”
“Not only did we celebrate the Invitational’s 30th year, but we did it with a bang – raising a record of more than $205,500. We are already strategizing how we can improve next year’s event to make it even more stellar on every level,” Garner said.
The funds came from tournament sponsorships combined with virtual and live in-person auctions, putting contest, and a 50/50 drawing.
“We could not do this every year without volunteers, from the committee members that seek sponsors and donors to those who work the events. I especially thank Joe Garner for stepping into the chairman’s role.”
“We also have to acknowledge that this was Jackson and Sons Heating and Air Conditioning’s 15th year as the Tournament Sponsor,” said Northington, and Wooten Development Company has been here since the beginning.
Wooten Oil Company founded the event in 1993 as a way to fund a cause that would use all of the money raised locally. Dillon Wooten and his business, Wooten Development Company, continue to contribute to it.
Jesus Quiroz was the speaker for the Invitational’s dinner. He described how he went from disheartened dropout to academic standout, dental assistant, associate degree-holder, award-winner, graduation speaker, and recipient of a full scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with the support and motivation he found at WCC.
“A $300 scholarship from our foundation changed his life,” Northington said. When people heard his story, they were happy to bid at the auction and donate.”
In addition to the dinner and auction on June 7, the event included a super ball golf tournament with morning and afternoon tee times on June 8, and a weather make-up round on June 9, all held at Walnut Creek Country Club.
Ninety businesses and individuals served as sponsors for this year’s tournament at eight financial levels while others donated items for the auctions.
This year’s event sponsors were
Tournament Sponsor: Jackson and Sons Heating and Air Conditioning
Diamond Sponsors: Daniels and Daniels Construction Company Inc., Bonnie and Bill Hunter, Korschun Foundation, Piedmont Natural Gas, R.A. Bryan Foundation Inc., and Anna Lean and Ed Reeves
Platinum Sponsors: Allen Grading Company Inc., Alta Foods LLC, Andy’s Foundation, AP Exhaust Technologies Inc., Beacon Building Products, Fran and Larry Boyce, Case Farms, CopyPro, Deacon Jones Auto Group, Franklin Baking Company, Georgia-Pacific Foundation Inc., Moseley Architects, Mount Olive Pickle Company, Ryerson, Seegars Fence Company, Southern Bank, Sport Durst Mazda VW Goldsboro, Truist, Union Bank, Wayne Electric Company, Wayne UNC Health Care, and Wooten Development Company
Gold Sponsors: Arnold Wilbert Vault, AT&T, Baker Pipe & Parts LLC, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services McMillen & Associates Realty, First Bank, Deborah K. Fulbright, Goldsboro Builders Supply, Horne Moving Systems Inc., LaFevers Dental Team, Precision Plumbing, Professional Data Management Inc., Quality Inn, Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation, Sherry and Beecher Smith, Carol and Al Takemoto, Jerry Tysinger, Walnut Creek Senior Player Group, Wayne Realty & Insurance Company Inc., and Worrell Contracting Company Inc.
Silver Sponsors: Affordable Energy Solutions, Baddour, Parker, Hine & Hale PC, Beth and Jack E. Kannan, Susan and Tom Brown, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, Cottle Strawberry Nursery Inc., Eagles Properties Inc., First Tee Golf Shop, Furniture Fair, Goldsboro Physical Therapy & Wellness, Hettie and Al Grisette, Group W. Management, Institutional Interiors Inc., Estelle and John Jennings, JSmith Civil LLC, KS Bank, Lee and Geoff Hulse, McArthur Properties of Goldsboro, North Carolina Community Federal Credit Union, Nunn, Brashear & Uzzell PA, Porter Group Real Estate, Ram Rent-All, Strickland Insurance Brokers Inc., Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith LLP, and Wells Fargo Advisors, and Martha and Dan Wise
Bronze Sponsors: Asphalt Services LLC, Banks, Gray & Crumpler PLLC, Carolina Family Pool & Patio, Hine Sitework Inc., Keen Plumbing, Landscape Design of Goldsboro Inc., Premiere Carpets, Sutton’s Safety Shoes Inc., Dr. Edward H. Wilson, and George F. Whitfield
Blue Sponsors: Coca-Cola, Culligan, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, and Southco Distributing
Meal Sponsors: Chick Fil A and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
The Foundation of Wayne Community College is a non-profit organization that works to broaden the base of community support for educational opportunities at the college. It funds program and facility enhancements, provides employee recognition, offers cultural programs for the community, and awards scholarships.
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 165 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.