by Sandy Mann

It’s hard to believe. But it’s been 10 years since the Paul D. Camp Community College Foundation held its first charity golf tournament. Led by former Board member Charles Modlin, a few members got together and began an effort, which has now become a wonderful tradition for the Foundation.

In the time that our first golf tournament was held, we’ve been able to raise thousands of dollars in support of students, faculty, and other general needs of the College. I personally have played in more than seven of the tournaments, and I can tell you that it’s truly a great time to be had for a terrific cause!

The 10th Annual Tournament will be at Cypress Creek Golfer’s Club in Smithfield, Va, on Friday, Sept. 13. It’s a beautiful location, and I expect that all who come out to play will have a grand time.

Our lead sponsor this year, and for the past several years, is Smithfield Foods. Tim Schellpeper, president of the Smithfield-Farmland Fresh Meat Group (formerly Smithfield Packing) is a member of our Board and has been instrumental in our efforts with Smithfield Foods. I’m so proud that we have Tim and Mr. Larry Pope, CEO and president of Smithfield Foods, as such ardent supporters of the Foundation. We are so fortunate to have them as part of our team.

In addition to Tim, we have a wonderful group of fellow Foundation Board members who serve selflessly and give so much to ensure that students have what they need to be successful. Without the support of former Board members, such as Holt Livesay and Mr. Modlin, current Board members, as well as Friends of the College, we’d not be able to achieve the success we have.

Student Involvement in Tournament Activities

This year’s charity tournament boasts a hole-in-one contest, which will net a whopping $50,000 prize. We also will have a putting contest, and participants will get a chance to win a $10,000 putting contest jackpot. In addition to those wonderful activities, we’ll have a ton of great prizes through our raffle contest.

One of most exciting activities this year is the involvement and integration of students into the tournament. We will work to invite students to visit each four-some. The involvement will be intended to help them learn key business principles, which will help them in their future academic or career pursuits. We also will involve our Presidential Student Ambassadors, who will be traveling around the course to meet and greet players and donors alike. It’s a real neat thing to involve students in the tournament in my judgment, it brings home the key reason we’re holding the tournament.

Meet the Foundation Board of Directors Members

As the saying goes, “it takes a village…” Well, the work of the Foundation Board of Directors is not done by just one person. It takes a team of dedicated individuals to build the programming, structure, and focused efforts designed to raise monies for College needs. They deserve a huge round of applause for all the work they do, and I’m so pleased that we have such a distinguished and robust team of folks to work with, including, Herbert W. DeGroft, vice-president; J. P. (Phil) Bain Jr., treasurer; Felicia Blow, APR, Paul D. Camp Community College, secretary and executive director; William (Billy) A. Gwaltney Jr., immediate past president; Dr. Dylan B. Belt; McLemore Birdsong; Dr. L. D. Britt; Cass Camp; Michael Clark; Dr. Paul Wm. Conco, college president; R. M. (Bob) Felts Jr.; June Fleming, local college board liaison; Adam Goldblatt; Frank E. Hall; Dr. Alvin Harris; Jenny Hutto; Mark A. Johnson; Dr. Patsy Joyner; Robert H. Powell; The Honorable Frederick Quayle; Tim Schellpeper; Lynda Updike; Roseland Worrell; Philoron A. Wright II; Nancy Nagle-Bolio, director emeritus.

Thank you to for all that you do to support Paul D. Camp Community College and the Foundation. Thank you for being stalwart in your commitment to ensuring that the Foundation continues to support the academic needs of the college and the community. And consider joining us on Friday, Sept. 13, at the Cypress Creek Golfer’s Club in Smithfield. Call the Office of Institutional Advancement at (757) 569-6790 for information or visit www.pdc.edu.

Alexander “Sandy” Mann is president of the PDCCC Foundation