Autumn/Winter 2019/20
Sawgrass Country Club Board and Strategic Planning Committee express a desire to find a way to support our staff, demonstrate commitment to our employees, and foster the feeling of an outstanding place to work. A sub group, led by William Palmer, suggest a Foundation be formed with the possible objective of offering scholarships.
January 2020
A retiring Board member volunteers to lead the start of a Foundation focused on scholarships for employees and their families. An outstanding group of experienced members is assembled and administrative steps started. It is determined that it is important to have a Foundation Board independent of the Club Board and management.
March 2020
It is discovered that the Foundation is able to provide direct support to staff impacted by a national crisis, namely the Covid-19 pandemic. A charter is adopted to provide both crisis relief and scholarships to employees and their families.
April 2020
A 501c3 charitable organization that will help collect money from members and distribute relief payments to staff during the COVID-19 pandemic is established. CPA John Brantley helps register the Sawgrass Foundation with the IRS and a board of directors is established.
May 2020
The Foundation distributes its initial round of stipends to sixty five employees, thanks to the generous donations from more than 225 Sawgrass members. The Sawgrass Foundation website is launched with great success, spearheaded by Board member Ken Schulz.
July 2020
The Foundation debuts its scholarship program for Sawgrass staff and their dependents. A Scholarship Committee is formed to manage the process, led by Cathy Wichert.
Additionally, the first fund raising event was held as a part of the Greenkeepers’s revenge tournament and raised more than $4200 from Sawgrass golfers.
July & August 2020
Scholarship applications begin to come in, already 6 by the end of August and 7 for the spring term, showing the need and desire for this assistance.