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Anonymous Donor to Match Golf Tournament Proceeds
For two years, a homecoming golf tournament for alumni and friends of Mars Hill College has provided an opportunity for sharing fun and memories, as well as raising funds for the MHC golf scholarships. But this year, a challenge gift from an anonymous donor will ensure that each participant in the 2011 tournament will have twice the impact.
The MHC Alumni and Friends Homecoming Golf Tournament was established three years ago. This year’s tournament will be held at Grove Park Inn in Asheville on Friday, October 7, the day before homecoming. Between entry fees and outright gifts, the tournament in its first two years raised almost $30,000 for the MHC golf program. (Plans for future tournaments include establishing a similar endowment for other athletic scholarships.)
An anonymous donor has now committed to match any net proceeds from this third annual tournament, dollar-for-dollar, up to $40,000.
Dr. Dan Lunsford, president of Mars Hill College, has been a participant in the tournament each of its previous two years. As an alumnus of the MHC class of 69, he attended Mars Hill College with tournament founders Skip and Susan Liles (classes of ’69 and ’71, respectively), of Charlotte.
“It’s personally gratifying for me that these friends from my peer group have reconnected in such a positive, energetic and constructive way to the college. And now, to have an anonymous matching gift to the college is an incredible ‘shot in the arm’ for this tournament,” Lunsford said. “We’re more than halfway to our goal of $50,000 for this endowment fund, and having this matching challenge dollar-for-dollar challenge gift gives me hope that we could this fall, reach that $50,000 benchmark.”
Lunsford said he is very grateful to to all the alumni and friends who have participated in and donated to the tournament up to this point. And, this year, he is particularly grateful to the anonymous donor who has doubled the effect of this year’s tournament. “On behalf of the golf program and the college, I’m very grateful to the donor who has issued this challenge, so that this endowment can make a difference sooner and at a higher level than we initially thought might be the case,” he said.
Singles or doubles are welcome. Cost is $165 per player. $100 of entry fee and 100% of any additional donation is tax deductible. For more information on the 3rd Annual MHC Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament, please contact Skip Liles (704/293-2447, lfliles@carolina.rr.com) or MHC Athletic Director David Riggins (828/689-1215, driggins@mhc.edu).
