The 25th Annual Founder’s Cup Golf Tournament hosted by the FGCU Foundation broke previous records for participation and fundraising, netting more than $135,000 for scholarships and programs that advance the university’s mission.
The tournament, held Oct. 21 at Quail Creek Golf Club in Naples, drew 61 teams of golfers and raised more than ever before.
“Once again, this year’s Founder’s Cup was the largest and most successful in the tournament’s history,” said Christopher Simoneau, Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the FGCU Foundation. “In this year that marks the tournament’s 25th anniversary and the approach of the university’s 20th anniversary in 2017, it is so gratifying to see the enthusiasm and generosity of so many individuals, teams and sponsors who continue to help us build on a tradition established by FGCU’s founders.”
The Founder’s Cup has raised $1.6 million for programs that support academic excellence, scholarships, student success, intercollegiate athletics and FGCU’s community and regional impact. These five initiatives form the foundation of the university’s $100-million campaign, which launched in 2014 and is set to conclude in 2017.
Joe Gammons of Office Furniture and Design Concepts Inc. served as chairman of the event. Bonita Bay Group was the Grand Sponsor while Grant Fridkin Pearson, P.A. was the Silver Anniversary Sponsor. The tournament also celebrated FGCU’s first president, Dr. Roy McTarnaghan, David Lucas of Bonita Bay Group, Jeff Fridkin of Grant Fridkin Pearson and Amy Gravina of Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold, all of whom have participated in the tournament since its inception.
The FGCU Foundation supports the university’s educational mission by securing and administering gifts on its behalf, managing its endowment and allocating funds that advance student achievement and enhance academic programs. For more information, call (239) 590-1067.