Celebrating the Success of the 15th Annual Crosby Scholars Invitational

The long-awaited 15th annual Crosby Scholars Invitational Golf Tournament raised nearly $300,000 to help Forsyth County public school students enroll in college. Guests at this year’s dinner and tournament celebrated the return to closer-to-normal after a year-long delay of the annual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. About 145 guests attended the pre-tournament dinner at Old Town Country Club, and 45 teams golfed for the good of Crosby Scholars at Bermuda Run Country Club. Instead of the traditional shotgun start, golfers received tee times to provide social distancing among golfers. Dinner guests learned first-hand about the impact of Crosby Scholars from Jennifer Hernandez-Gonzalez, a graduate of Parkland IB Magnet High School and a 2020 graduate of Wake Forest University. She joined the staff of Crosby Scholars as Near Peer Advisor where she advises senior Crosby Scholars about college. After the 2-year commitment, she plans to pursue her masters in counseling or a PsyD in clinical counseling.

“I am a first-generation college student from a minority background who had no idea what to do for the college admissions process and with parents who knew even less,” Jennifer said. “I can only imagine the stress and cluelessness I would’ve endured had it not been for Crosby. My one-on-one sessions with my advisor were the best advantage. With her help, I was able to apply and get accepted into my dream school. She encouraged me to apply for Crosby scholarships, to which I received the Wake Forest University/Crosby Scholars Scholarship.” The middle and high school program prepares students for the classroom and for life beyond college by addressing topics like time management and mental health, she said. Jennifer built relationships with staff members she trusted who helped her when she had questions about completing financial documents. “The program lives up to ‘For College. For Life,’” Jennifer said. During her senior year at Wake Forest, Jennifer received an email about the Near Peer Advisor position. “Reading about the Near Peer position resonated with me because I would be working with students and helping them apply to college, which I never forgot from Crosby, and I wanted to give back to the next generation,” she said. “I was able to help students whose shoes I had been in, but I also worked with students who were of completely different backgrounds. Despite the differences, they all had one thing in common: they needed help with the college process and that was something I could give them. Working with Crosby has given me the opportunity to listen and engage with students, which is great practice for the career I am pursuing as a mental health counselor. I feel so much support from this organization, and I am thankful to be a part of it. Thank you to you all, the sponsors, for making the Crosby Scholars Program possible and accessible to all of our students.”

Crosby Scholars President & CEO Mona Lovett explained that golf sponsorships provide students Last Dollar Grants – one of the hallmarks of Crosby Scholars, as well as the many programs and services provided to students, all free of charge, beginning in the 6th grade through graduation. “Crosby Scholars is grateful to each one of you for your belief in our mission and for making our students a priority as together we help pave a path to college for the next generation,” Lovett said. She announced the quiet phase of the $7 million Capital Campaign that will raise funds for programming, a new customized software program and LDG’s. Paul Fulton, Crosby Scholars long-time supporter and one of its founders, recognized the absence of his good friend Kathryn Crosby, who brought Bing Crosby’s National Celebrity Golf Tournament to Bermuda Run in 1986, which led to the creation of the Crosby Scholars Program. Kathryn joined the dinner through a video to wish the golfers well.

Fulton was joined at the podium by Kathryn’s daughter Mary and son Nathaniel, who is captain of the winning Walker Cup Team and will return in 2022 as a guest speaker for the tournament. They called Kathryn to share the news of the tournament’s fundraising success and to announce $255,000 raised for the Kathryn Crosby Scholarship for Excellence. This scholarship will provide Pell-eligible, first-generation students with $2,500 a year for a total of four years. One of Kathryn’s legacies is the Angel Award, created during the Crosby National Celebrity Golf Tournament to recognize an individual who has been crucial to the success of Crosby Scholars. This year’s Angel Award winner is Danny Newcomb, a CPA, who joined the Board of Directors in 2009. A golfer with a long history of advocating for Crosby, he became a member of the Paul’s Golf Sponsorship Committee.

“While serving as a Board member he was immediately asked to do what he does best,” Lovett said. “He developed a strong committee to review the short-term and long-term viability of the program. He asked questions and poked and prodded until he understood it all. He signed a countless number of checks before he rotated off the board. He rejoined the Board in 2016 serves as Treasurer of the Board, Co-Chair of the Finance Committee and is one of the Tri -Chairs of the Crosby Scholars Capital Campaign.” Lovett also announced the ACE Award, which recognizes a rare, skilled person who excels at something, such as a hole-in-one in golf—or, in this case, an incomparable fundraiser for Crosby Scholars. ACE Award winner Becky Perkinson joined Crosby Scholars in December of 2007.

“One thing that stood out on her resume was self-motivated with a high level of energy,” Lovett said. “That’s an understatement. Our Crosby Scholars Invitational Golf Tournament has been highly successful due to generous sponsors and great volunteers, but Becky Perkinson took the entire concept to a new level. She does not mind asking you to ask for money, she does not mind asking for money. She will ask you again and again. She’s a driver, and she likes to reach her goal. She has been committed, dedicated, and driven and during her tenure, we have netted more than $3.3 million from our golf tournaments.” Perkinson retired after the 15th Crosby Scholars Invitational, but she said she’d be back in the fall for one more event: the second annual Birdies and Brunch, a women-only fundraiser she first organized in 2019.

Click Here for the Crosby Invitational Photo Album!

Don Flow on Why Crosby Scholars Matters “Support Crosby Scholars.” That was the message to guests at the dinner before the 15th Annual Crosby Scholars Invitational Golf Tournament from Don Flow, President and CEO of Flow Automotive Companies. “…If you want to help a child escape poverty, support Crosby Scholars,” Flow said. “If you want Winston-Salem to be a community of opportunity, support Crosby Scholars. If you want to say that the zip code in which a child is born does not determine his or her future, support Crosby Scholars. If you think the American dream still matters in America, support Crosby Scholars. “ Flow, a community leader and visionary for Winston-Salem, explained why Crosby Scholars is a key part of a thriving community with economic opportunity. “Post high school education is the single best predictor of social and economic mobility and stability,” he said. “Associate degree holders earn $350,000 more than high school graduates over their lifetime, and that difference lifts someone out of economic instability and financial anxiety. Four-year college graduates earn $1.2 million more over their lifetime. I have a prediction to make. Because the growth in income of person with an associate’s degree in skilled technical area is far outstripping inflation, it will not be long before they match the earnings of college graduates. It is not that college graduates are earning less. Instead, it is that skilled technical jobs are paying more.” He noted that traditional skills jobs that paid well now often require post-secondary education. Click here to read more.

The Winner's Circle

1st Place: Ramey Kemp & Associates, Inc. Lennie Barton - Adam Fischer - Michael LaSosso - Cliff Seastrunk

2nd Place: Commercial Realty Advisors Michael Hough - Houston Hough - Joe Dillon - John Dillon

3rd Place: Southeastern Pension Company John Googe - Cameron Kent - Todd Lynch - Rock Pickard

Remembering Joe Neely Crosby Scholars remembered a beloved supporter the night before the 15th Crosby Scholars Invitational Golf Tournament. Joe Neely, 80, who passed away May 20, 2021, was a long-time champion of Crosby Scholars, and Paul Fulton recalled that Neely helped sustain the program at a critical point in its early years when they both worked for Sara Lee Corporation. Fulton asked dinner guests to raise a glass to toast Joe and Joyce, his wife of more than 50 years, who attended the dinner. According to his obituary, Joe met and married Joyce Riddle, and “They formed an unbreakable partnership of over 50 years, despite a somewhat unorthodox honeymoon in Kansas City with 40 women in short skirts for the national roll-out of L'eggs pantyhose. In 1970, they moved to Winston-Salem, NC, where Joe joined Hanes Corp. to work on the growth of L'eggs. He became President of L'eggs Products in 1976. Hanes Corp. was acquired by Sara Lee Corporation, and Neely moved his family to Chicago where he was a member of the corporation's Senior Management Committee and Senior Vice President of Sara Lee Personal Products. After retiring from Sara Lee, Joe co-founded a licensing and marketing company and created RayLen Vineyards and Winery.” He remained involved in the community, serving on many Boards of Directors and Crosby Scholars was fortunate to have his on-going support. In his memory, the Joe F. Neely Memorial Scholarship Fund has been created. Learn more about Mr. Neely’s achievements and community impact here.

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Your generosity raised $300,000 to ensure that every public school student in Forsyth County has the opportunity to attend college. Over 11,000 students will be prepared academically, personally and financially for college and for life, all thanks to you! Thank you very much for your support!

Presented By Kathryn Crosby & Paul Fulton Hosted By Bermuda Run Country Club

Team Sponsors Apollo Chemical Artwear Atlantic Packaging Avery Dennison Carters, Inc. Shelby & Lee Chaden Cook Medical Duke Energy  Ernst & Young LLP Flow Automotive Gateway Management Services, Inc. Goodwill Industries of NWNC Green Foundation Vi & Tony Golding Hanesbrands, Inc. Harris Teeter, LLC Hood Container IFF Health Biosciences-Home & Personal Care ICON International, Inc. I.L. Long Construction Co. Kelly Office Solutions Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, LLP Betty & Rodger Holley Amy & Michael Hough Ann & Ben Hough Joyce Kohfeldt Nancy & Gilmour Lake Jim Lippard McMichael Mills, Inc. McMurray Fabrics Mercedes Benz of Winston-Salem Modern Automotive Kathy & Danny Newcomb Novant Health Packaging Corporation of America Parkway Ford

Perkinson Law, PLLC Piedmont Federal Savings Bank Piedmont Stone Center, PLLC PricewaterhouseCoopers QFC QuadPackaging Quality Labels & Packaging, Inc. Ramey Kemp & Associates, Inc. Ridge Care Rudolf-Venture Chemical, Inc. Salem Corporation Sciessent Shelco, LLC SigmaQ SML, USA, Inc. Sonoco Display & Packaging Southeastern Pension Company  Peggy Taylor Triad Academy at Summit School Truist Twin City Warehouses Village Tavern Vivid Metal Prints/Richard Brenner Wake Forest Baptist Health Richard Watts Ward Family Foundation Wells Fargo Bank WestRock Merchandising Displays Winston-Salem Journal Womble Bond Dickinson, LLP Community Sponsors Edward Armfield Diane & Rolland Barrett Bob King Automotive Group Mike Brown Rene & Jeff Clark Thomas Clark Clinard Concepts & Solutions

Commercial Realty Mary Lee & Tommy Douglas Linda & Mike Ernst Jenny & Bo Fulton Linda & John Garrou Nancy & Pat Grantham Bridget Green Flower City Group Greif, Inc. Kathy & Jim Hardison Betsy Hutchison Brenda & Hal Kaplan Courtney & Jim Kluttz Lambert Architecture + Interiors, PA Landmark Builders LB Olson Advertising Products Mona & Daniel Lovett Mary Allen & Jim Martin Kathryn & Mark McCarville Sheri & Mac McQuilkin Angie & Everette Murphrey Adele & Michael Murphy Mary Ceile & Sam Ogburn, Sr. PepsiCo Buddy Redd Salem Group Ashley & Zack Sharpe Dru & Rick Simpson Sibylle & Don Smith TeamLogic IT Truliant Federal Credit Union Wildfire Jean & Phil Waugh Deborah Welch Janet & Mike Wells David Wharton Frankie & Vernon Winters Nancy Young Pat & Joe Young

Thank You to Our Volunteers!

Our success would not be possible without our exceptional volunteers on the Golf Sponsorship Committee, Golf Operations Committee, and at the Crosby Scholars Invitational. Thank you for your dedication to changing the lives of students in Forsyth County!

Ronnie Albright Susan Baldwin Nick Barnes Andy Brown Kelly Bullock Derrick Claggett Bob Cornish Bob Cox Don Eaton Jim Einstein Mike Ernst James Francis

Bo Fulton Paul Fulton David Gardiner Gay Hill Kevin High, MD, MS Karen Huey Wayne McCombs Danny Newcomb Tony Norman Charles J. Palmer III David Park Thomas Powell

Anthony Ricco Chad Setliff Hunter Shaffer Hannah Sink Mike Sloan Cameron Smith  Michael Vance Anne Westbrook David Wharton John Wright and all Crosby Scholars Staff

Congratulations to our Executive Director's Award of Distinction Scholarship Winners!

$20,250 was awarded to 27 Crosby Scholars who were in the program from 6th to 12th Grade without interruption or missing a requirement. All thanks to you!

Thanks to your support $989,095 was awarded to Forsyth County students last year. We are so grateful and cannot wait to see you again in 2022!

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