Feature: Building a great foundation

Building a great foundation

Story and photos by James Hill

The PCC Foundation is in the swing of fund-raising for 2007-08 thanks to its annual golf tournament.

The Foundation, in partnership with the metro area construction industry, raised more than $66,000 at the fourth annual PCC Golf Challenge at Heron Lakes Golf Course in September. The tournament involves many of the major contractors, sub-contractors, and service and support companies to the local construction industry and the college. The tournament supports student scholarships, instructional and equipment enhancements, and faculty or staff development. It is the largest fund-raising event of the year for the PCC Foundation.

“It went very well,” said Rick Zurow, Foundation director. “It didn’t rain, which was a positive. It was a great turnout. Everybody had a great time golfing and mingling at the reception. Personally, I had a blast. I’ve never worked for a charitable organization that had a golf tournament before. It’s great to have a legitimate reason to get out of the office to go golfing.”

Since 2004 the tournament has netted more than $225,000 for students and programs related to construction. The proceeds have fully endowed the Alice Jacobson Excellence Award, which enhances student services and learning, and staff development at the Sylvania Campus. For golf tournament info and results, visit

the Foundation's Golf Challenge website.

What the Golf Challenge funds will be used for:

Helping to endow the Golf Challenge Building Construction Scholarship Endowment. The golf tournament contributes $5,000 per year toward Endowment goal of $25,000. Upon reaching the goal, the endowment will produce an annual scholarship for students in PCC s Construction, Architectural Design and Drafting, Building Inspection, Electrical trades, and Drafting Technology and Design programs.
A new initiative to support sustainable building education programs. The Annual Golf Challenge Sustainability Program fund just started this year with $5,000 going toward promoting instruction in sustainable techniques in PCC s Construction, and construction-related programs.
Purchase a fluorescent lighting display and testing equipment for BCT mechanical systems classes to help teach HVAC and energy conservation concepts to students.
Remaining net proceeds will go to the foundation s unrestricted general fund where more than $100,000 in scholarships have been awarded since 2004.