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By JOSEPH GIDJUNIS
Courier-Post Staff

The nonprofit arm of the Camden school district is looking for participants and sponsors for the fourth annual golf tournament fundraiser, which provides scholarships for college-bound seniors.

The Camden Board of Education Foundation has expanded its financial goal to $62,500, an increase of $12,500 and five students, over last year’s goals. The increase allows the foundation to compensate for an additional five scholarships for students from Camden’s fifth high school, MetEast, which is graduating its first class of seniors on June 26.

The remaining scholarships are divided evenly over the other four high schools.

“We want to give these kids a financial hand up to go to college,” said Jack Tarditi, president of the foundation. “It’s integral in helping these 25 kids pay for their first year of college.”

Registration for the golf tournament fundraiser begins at 11 a.m. June 24 at the Pennsauken Country Club, on Haddonfield Road.

In addition to college scholarships, the money raised will benefit other cultural activities the school district can’t pay for on its own, said School District spokesman Bart Leff. In the past year, the foundation provided significant funding for the Camden High School Marching Band to compete in Inauguration weekend festivities.

The foundation has also helped refurbish high school football stadium field houses, travel expenses for special groups to see a Guatemalan rain forest, and a trip for a choral competition in Verona, Italy, Leff said.

The golf tournament is expecting former Philadelphia sports icons Bernie Parent, of the Philadelphia Flyers, and Jon Runyan and Irving Fryar, of the Philadelphia Eagles, as honorary chairmen. The Philadelphia Phanatic should also make an appearance, Leff said. There is also a silent auction and award banquet for the students and families.

Sponsorship begins at $250 for an individual, or $2,000 for a team of four. Top level sponsorship extends to $10,000 or $20,000. The overall fundraising goal is $80,000, Leff said.

“We would like to raise as much as possible,” Leff said. “Our game plan is to create an endowment for these activities.”

Tarditi said that he recognizes the hit on families and corporations, but added that he expects that Camden’s loyal community won’t let the children down.

Reach Joseph Gidjunis at (856) 486-2604 or jgidjunis@gannett.com

Additional Facts IF YOU GO

The Camden Board of Education Foundation’s fourth annual golf tournament fundraiser to provide scholarships for college-bound seniors will be at 11 a.m. June 24. The tournament will be at the Pennsauken Country Club on Haddonfield Road. For more information, call Bart Leff at (856) 966-2649 or Jack Tarditi (856) 552-4792.

 

This fall, they are entering the 8th grade. But this summer, they’re taking classes at Rutgers University.

The Rutgers Future Scholars program welcomed its first 200 Scholars this summer, and will welcome up to 50 students every year from each of the Rutgers’ communities: Camden, Newark, New Brunswick and Piscataway. The goal is to make tuition-free college education possible for promising students who would not be able to afford tuition. The five-year program will provide Scholars opportunities for academic enrichment and social development, along with tutors, mentors and advisors. Those who complete the program and gain admission to Rutgers will receive a full scholarship. Many of the Scholars will be the first in their families to attend a four-year college.

The program founders hope it will be a model for providing a pathway to higher education for at-risk, low-income students. The Scholars will attend residential summer programs during high school, as well as a Saturday seminar series and preparation classes for PSAT, SAT and ACT exams. Parents are expected to participate in workshops, partner with teachers, and assist with the college admissions process.

Funded by private donors and corporate gifts, the program has already raised more than $200,000 in pledged support.

Want to learn more? Check out this Rutgers Future Scholars Program Welcome Session Video.