PALM BEACH GARDENS — A helicopter hovered over the 18th green at BallenIsles Country Club and unleashed dozens of numbered golf balls as one of the fundraising contests during the recent Palm Beach State College Foundation annual Golf Classic.
The “copter drop” contest winner, Josh Long, won an HP Pavilion laptop computer for having the ball closest to the pin.
The contest helped conclude a successful tournament, whose theme was “Get in the game and make a difference,” as the foundation successfully raised more than $105,000 for student scholarships and programs.
A field of 27 foursomes put their putts in gear at the East Course, where legendary greats such as Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer have competed.
The Golf Classic ended with a cocktail reception, award ceremony and prizes. The golfers were visibly moved when former student trustee Faith Proper spoke on behalf of the scholarship recipients. Ricky Wade, McDonald’s North County Group franchisee, responded by giving the computer he had just won to Proper.
“When I heard Faith share her academic success in spite of the obstacles she faced along the way, I knew then it was the right thing to do. It is students who work hard that inspire me to give back,” he said.
Sponsors of the classic included Balfour Beatty Construction, Bobby Resciniti Healing Hearts Foundation, Honda Classic Golf Exchange Radio, Lotspeich Co. of Florida, McDonald’s North County, PepsiCo and Suffolk Construction.
“The support for this year's golf tournament was phenomenal,” said Suellen Mann, the foundation’s executive director. “Our community partners demonstrated their commitment to our students by funding scholarships and programs,” she said. “BallenIsles was a great host, and the players enjoyed a beautifully prepared course, perfect weather and a real spirit of fun and giving.”
PHOTO: COURTESY OF PBSC
DIRECT ASSISTANCE: Ricky Wade, right, McDonald’s North County Group franchisee, generously gifted the laptop computer he won at the Palm Beach State College Foundation’s annual Golf Classic to new PBSC graduate Faith Proper, who plans to attend Emory University.
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