The Mt. Laurel Public Education Fund’s 19th annual Golf Classic will be held on Monday, Sept. 16 at the Laurel Creek Country Club.
“It’s been a wonderful event,” MLPEF president George Greatrex said. “Folks from all over the community coming together and supporting a cause that helps our children and our schools.”
Last year, the MLPEF donated $30,000 to the district, funds that were used to restore several after-school clubs and related activities deleted from the district’s operating budget due to recent state aid reductions.
“What is very cool about the event is you can see the results. You can actually see where the money goes and what programs and extracurricular activities are impacted by the funds raised,” Greatrex said.
Clubs and after-school activities from music at Fleetwood School to video production at Hartford School to wiffle ball at Springville are all directly funded by the MLPEF. The board of education announced that, in total, 23 clubs were sponsored by the MLPEF for the upcoming school year.
The MLPEF is an independent non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to support quality education in the district. Since 1994, the fund has donated more than $700,000 to the district. Money has also been used to fund technology upgrades for each classroom, grants to teachers to support innovative programs, and scholarships to students in need of tutoring whose families may find it a financial burden.
This is the main fundraising event of the year for the MLPEF. It is looking for financial support for this event and its mission by purchasing a sponsorship, playing golf or both. Hole and tee sponsorships are $150, with higher sponsorship levels available.
The event began initially as a way for the schools to reach out to Mt. Laurel’s businesses and corporations for fundraising, but now, according to Greatrex, it is a hybrid of both.
“We’ve been impressed with how many of Mt. Laurel’s families have stepped up to support the event. Some of them with children in the district and some without. We’ve had great support from individual residents as well as the business community,” Greatrex said.
The day’s activities will begin at 11 a.m. with check-in and lunch. Afternoon golf begins at noon with shotgun start and scramble format rules, which will enable foursomes to proceed at a pace commensurate their particular skill levels. Following the afternoon of golf, there will be cocktails, entertainment, dinner and an awards presentation. Greatrex said the event is fun even for those who don’t play golf.
“We have some who come out just to enjoy the beautiful venue and join us for dinner. There are presentations; we honor some of the teachers from the district,” Greatrex said. “The camaraderie of the community coming together for this event to support a great cause is really special to see.”
For more information on the MLPEF or the event, visit http://www.mtlaurelschools.org/Community/Mount-Laurel-Public-Education-Fund.
