South Georgia Tech employees give generously to Foundation TechForce 2017 Fund Drive

The South Georgia Technical College Foundation kicked off its eighteenth annual TechForce fundraising drive and South Georgia Technical College employees demonstrated their commitment to help students “Take Off With South Georgia Tech” through their contributions and participation at a silent auction and luncheon held recently in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the Americus campus. Approximately 150 full and part-time employees participated in the “Take Off With South Georgia Tech” fundraising drive through payroll deduction donations, bids on silent auction items or through contributions to the Foundation as part of the internal portion of the TechForce 2017 kickoff drive. SGTC employees also took part in “Take Off With South Georgia Tech” email contests for several weeks leading up to the luncheon and silent auction in order to earn a spot in the luncheon’s “Beat Shazam” game-show. As part of the luncheon activities, employees played the “Beat Shazam” game which allowed employees to guess different types of music and the artists who performed. The 16 individuals who competed for special prizes in the game show included: Tawanna Wright, David Kuipers, Dr. John Watford, Chester Taylor, Nancy Fitzgerald, Gwen Hall, Valerie Hines, Beth Brooks, Kelly Everett, Terri Battle, Sandhya Muljibhai, Kelly Everett, Melissa Grantham, Christine Rundle, Jasmine Mercer, and Kim Miller The team of Valerie Hines and Terrie Battle wound up in first place followed closely behind by David Kuipers and Nancy Fitzgerald. Thurston Clary of Sumter Broadcasting provided music for the event during the silent auction and luncheon. Each year, the South Georgia Technical College Foundation hosts a TechForce drive to raise funds for different programs and projects on the Americus and Crisp County Center campuses. The TechForce 2017 campaign is currently underway and the theme is “Taking Off With South Georgia Tech!” All donations for equipment, scholarships, and textbooks during the SGTC Foundation TechForce 2017 fund drive will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Technical College System of Georgia and through various grants. This year the foundation’s goal is to raise $250,000 to provide textbooks at no cost to students as well as scholarships for deserving and needy students and purchase state of the art equipment for the college’s Aviation Maintenance Technology, Electrical Lineworker and Air Conditioning Technology programs. “The South Georgia Technical College Foundation is a vital part of our college’s success,” explained South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “We appreciate the support that we receive from our employees and from the community through the foundation fund drives. Thirty different programs have benefited directly from the past seventeen TechForce drives with additional state-of-the-art equipment. The entire college and community have benefited from the scholarships and the use of free textbooks for students. These donations have also helped with the James Hall and Martin Hall dorm renovations and the renovations to the former DOAS Surplus Building which has been transformed into our general core classroom building as well as the John Deere TECH Agricultural Technology program. We appreciate the support of our boards, faculty, staff, and community partners.” The TechForce 2017 fund drive has already gotten off to a good start with the help of employees, business and industry partners and local supporters who have donated items for the SGTC Foundation Internal TechForce drive, luncheon and silent auction. Each year nearly 100% of the SGTC employees contribute to the TechForce drive through payroll deduction or direct donations. Approximately $525,000 of the nearly $4.5 million raised by the TechForce campaigns over the past 17 years has been donated by South Georgia Technical College faculty and staff. Members of the South Georgia Technical College Foundation and the SGTC Board of Directors as well as other volunteers will be making contacts with community leaders asking for support of the fund drive again this year. Postcards and solicitation letters were sent out to community leaders asking for support. SGTC Foundation Trustee and Development Committee chairman John Argo is head of the TechForce 2017 drive for the Foundation The TechForce 2017 Internal Committee included: Co- chairpersons David Finley and Vanessa Wall, Shane Peaster, Leah Windham, Carrie Wilder, Valerie Hines, Teresa McCook, James Frey, Victoria Herron, Paul Fitzgerald, Matthew Burks, Gail Clary, Minnie Williamson, Beth Brooks, Tami Blount, Andrea Ingram, Michele Seay, Kierra Sparks, Nancy Fitzgerald, Dr. Andrea Oates, Faith Harnum, Charles Christmas, Randy Greene, Mike Enfinger, Brenda Butler, and Eulish Kinchens. For more information about the TechForce 2017 fund drive or to make a donation to the Foundation, contact South Georgia Technical College Foundation Executive Director and SGTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Su Ann Bird at 229.931.2110 or sbird@southgatech.edu. Over 100 different businesses from the South Georgia Technical College service area donated items to the employee silent auction event which raised over $5,000. Those businesses included: 16 East Bar & Grill, First Franklin, 2 Dukes BBQ, Adams Family Pharmacy, Advanced Auto Parks, Advanced Cleaners, Allies, Americus Auto Care, Americus Dental, Anderson Electronics, Auto Zone, Avon/Terrie Battle, Belks, Brett Murray, Brooks Auto Parts-NAPA, Cas Chiropractic, Central Automotive, Chandler Morgan Eyeworks, Chick Fil-a, Clinic Drug Store, Clip Chix, South Georgia Tech Crisp County Center Welding Department, Cosmetic & Laser Center, Dr. Michael Busman, Cracker Barrel, Cuttin’ Up, Dillard’s, Dills Florist, Dollar General, Exum Power Equipment, Farmers Furniture, Flint Ag Americus, Furlow Charter School, Gatewood’s Flower Shop, Griffin Bell Golf and Conference Center, Ginger Roots Salon, Gray Ghost Customs, LLC, Hart Eye Center, J & J Oil Change, Dr. John Watford, Jones Welding, Joy’s Downtown, Ken’s BBQ, Margie Campbell, Kimberly O’Neal, Leslie Barbosa – Lovely Lips Distributor, Little Brothers Bistro, Lucy Lu’s, Mark Kay/Jennifer Rogers, Miller Auto Parts/NAPA, Mindy Morris, Minick Interiors, Monroe’s Hot Dogs, Motivation’s/Xaiver Jackson, Pat’s Place, Phoebe Sumter, Piggly Wiggly of Oglethorpe, Pinkin Quilts, Railway Freight, Randi Alford Designs, Red Hills Outdoor, Roberts Jewelers, Roman Oven, Ruby Tuesday, Rustic South Photography, Sakari & Co., Sally’s Nails, Scentsy/Melissa Grantham, Scentsy/Colby Walls, Schley Metal Works, SGTC Bookstore, SGTC Marketing Department, Shannon Campbell Photography, Shear Heaven Salon, Shell Rapid Lube, South Georgia Banking Company, Southwest Trophy and Gifts, Spent Rounds Designs, Stone River Spa, LLC, Strictly Business, Sumter EMC, Sumter Players, Sweet Pea’s & Magnolia’s, Tami Blount, The Maze, Three’s Company, Tractor Supply Co. of Cordele, Tupperware by Debbie Cripe, Vanessa Wall, Verizon Wireless, Waterboys Bait and Tackle, Watson Tree Farm, Westover Outdoor Power Equipment, Wiley’s Limousine Service, Wolf Creek Plantation, Younique/Ali Purdy, and Anderson Station.