Education Foundation golf tournament returns to raise money for teacher grants

The Lenoir County Education Foundation Superball Tournament returns in September to raise funds for grants awarded annually to Lenoir County’s public school teachers.

The tournament is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 9, at Kinston Country Club. The afternoon fundraiser includes a putting contest with cash prizes, lunch, door prizes, team photos and other extras for participating teams. Tournament sponsorships of at least $600 include a complimentary golf foursome.

Information about becoming a tournament sponsor or entering a team is online at https://kinstonchamber.com/kinston-news/2021-golf-tournament.

In 2019, the last year the tournament was held, the event raised $16,000 to support a competitive grant program administered by the Education Foundation, an arm of the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce. 

In the 2019-2020 school year, more than 50 Lenoir County Public School teachers at 16 schools won mini-grants capped at $500 thanks to fundraising from the golf tournament and the Chamber’s Adult Spelling Bee held later in the year.

In all, the Education Foundation distributed $20,836 in mini-grants that school year to further teachers’ educational objectives.

In 2020, public health restrictions forced the tournament’s cancellation; however, tournament organizers and perennial tournament sponsors like Down East Protection Systems (DEPS) and UNC Lenoir Health Care still raised $14,000 that was donated to Lenoir County Public Schools for the purchase of personal protective equipment, sanitizing products, internet hotspots and other items made necessary by the coronavirus pandemic and the shift to remote learning.

“After a year’s absence, we are very excited about the opportunity to bring golfers back to Kinston Country Club to raise money for our county’s teachers,” tournament organizer Judy Jones said. “We are in the process of signing up sponsors and golf teams with the goal of making this year’s the biggest Education Foundation golf tournament ever. The more money we raise, the more money Lenoir County teachers win for their students.”

This year, the superball tournament is presented by Lenoir County Public Schools, the primary sponsor. Down East Protection Systems (DEPS) is the top corporate sponsor.

The event begins with lunch at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 9 with play beginning shortly thereafter. The tournament rain date is Sept. 16.

“We are greatly appreciative to the Lenoir County Education Foundation and the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce and other golf tournament sponsors for their support,” LCPS Superintendent Brent Williams said. “We are just so appreciative of what they’re doing for our kids and the instruction our teachers lead every day.”