College retirees Dr. James Hinson, left, Joyce Hairston and Joyce Garrett, right, were joined by anthropology professor John Redmond for a fun and fundraising round of golf. Former tennis coach Garrett was one of two people in the Million Dollar Shootout. (photo by Bill Roa)
Among the golfers was Dr. James Hinson, the second president of Georgia Perimeter College, then known as DeKalb College. (photo by Bill Roa)
George Fellows Memorial Golf Tournament raises thousands for scholarships
Golfers on their game—and some who were just there to putt— came out in force to raise money for Georgia Perimeter student book scholarships, support services and college programs. The event was the 18th annual George Fellows Memorial Golf Tournament held at Chateau Élan in May.
The tournament drew 188 golfers and was supported by more than 90 volunteers decked out in maroon “A Better Way Forward” college t-shirts.
Predicted showers held off for the day, as golfers enjoyed the beautiful course in Braselton. Attending the event—and shooting a golf game score well below his age—was Dr. James Hinson, who celebrated his 90th birthday in April. Hinson, who was the second president to lead what was then DeKalb College and is now Georgia Perimeter, has attended 16 of the 18 golf tournaments since the tournament began, said Bill Covington, GPC development officer and committee chair for the tournament.
Tournament attendees also bid on sports memorabilia, tickets and restaurant gift certificates during a silent auction.
The auction raised more than $4,000 specifically earmarked for the Military Outreach Foundation Fund, according to Mark Eister, Georgia Perimeter’s military outreach director. “This money will be used to fund everything from the GPC Military Outreach scholarship to special events, receptions and open houses sponsored by Military Outreach,” said Eister.
Launched in 1997, the annual Georgia Perimeter College Foundation fundraising event is named for the late George Fellows, a former DeKalb County school board member and the first official donor to the college foundation. Fellows was one of the original county school board members who helped found DeKalb College in 1964. Since the tournament began, it has raised more than $1.4 million for student scholarships and college programs.
The college’s upcoming consolidation in January with Georgia State University won’t change next year’s plans for golfers, said Covington.
The 19th annual tournament is already booked for Friday, May 13, 2016, at Chateau Élan.
The 18th annual George Fellows Memorial Golf Tournament by the numbers:
- 188 golfers
- 92 volunteers
- $90,000 generated
- $4,231 earmarked for Military Outreach efforts