WENATCHEE, Wash. – Stemilt Growers presented Washington Apple Education Foundation with a check for $12,000 last week. The funds for the check came from the proceeds of the 4th Annual Thomas K. Mathison Memorial Golf Tournament, which was held on May 17th in Wenatchee.
WAEF is the charitable organization for the Washington tree fruit industry. They oversee more than 150 scholarships each year, including the Thomas K. Mathison Memorial scholarship.
According to Jay Fulbright, Vice President of Operations at Stemilt, a record 36 teams turned out for the golf tournament to raise funds for the scholarship named after Stemilt’s late founder and tree fruit industry icon, Tom Mathison. The tournament also received overwhelming sponsorship support from local and regional companies.
“Tom valued education and was always a strong supporter of local schools. The annual golf tournament is a way for us to carry on his passion for education by raising funds that benefit local students as they pursue a college degree,” Fulbright said.
According to Witherbee, approximately 419 students throughout eastern Washington applied for 187 scholarships totaling $475,000 in 2012. WAEF selected and awarded 139 of those students with scholarships to use at the college of their choice. Among these students was Ismael Vargas, a hard-working student with extra-curricular activities that include memberships in Future Farmers of America, Key Club, and Future Business Leaders of America, as well as the school soccer team. Vargas received the 2012 Thomas K. Mathison Memorial scholarship, totaling $5,000. He is pursuing a degree in engineering.
“WAEF would not exist if it weren’t for the generosity of the tree fruit industry and companies like Stemilt. Our students share with us that the financial assistance is necessary for college to be a reality; but it’s the encouragement offered by a scholarship that provides motivation to succeed at school,” said Witherbee.
The overall winner of the tournament was Camp David with the following team members: Buell Hawkins, Donn Etherington, Duane Peart, and Dave Mathison. The Co-Ed division was won by Flynn Packaging featuring: Lorena Lopez, Cindy Hartman, Joe Zellner, and Rocky Flynn. Participants enjoyed a lunch sponsored by U.S. Bank and dinner sponsored by Wells Fargo. The tournament was a huge success and Stemilt is already planning for next year, Fulbright said.
Stemilt would like to thank the following companies for sponsoring the tournament: Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, Plumbco, Shippers Choice, A&W Paving, Charlie’s Produce, Moss-Adams, SeaGate Produce, Doubl-Kold, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Fresh Pacific, Boise, Go USA, Wilbur-Ellis, Van-Whole Produce, Valley Tractor Rentals, Able Freight Services, Shiftlett’s Inc., G.G. Richardson, Fasteners Inc., GP Graders, Dovex, Pandol, Rainier West Inc., Keyes, Flynn Packaging, Chelan Transfer Co., Midland Trucking, H.R. Spinner, Kibble & Prentice, The Wash Station, Four Points Transportation, Crunch Pak, Rodda Paint, Sea & Air Transport, R.E. Powell Distributing, Sangster Motors, Wings Brokerage, Inc., M.G. Wagner Co., Ag Supply Co., Amerigas, Excel Fruit, Beckstead Electric, Covenant Solutions, Bob & Cleta Mathison, Sedona Trucking, Michelsen Packaging Co., Bethlehem Construction, Fruit Packers Supply, Jeffers, Danielson, Sonn & Aylward, Hanjin Shipping, CH20, Schmitt Electric, and Pace International.
About Stemilt
Stemilt Growers is a leading tree fruit growing, packing and shipping company based in Wenatchee, Washington. Owned and operated by the Mathison family, Stemilt is the leading shipper of sweet cherries and the largest supplier of organic tree fruits in the nation. Stemilt has also demonstrated a commitment to sustainable agriculture and social responsibility since 1989, when founder Tom Mathison launched the company’s Responsible Choice program.
About Washington Apple Education Foundation
The Washington Apple Education Foundation is the charity of Washington’s tree fruit industry. It was formed in 1994 to coordinate, develop and promote charitable activities reflecting the values of industry members. For more information, please visit its web site at www.waef.org or phone (509) 663-7713.
Source: Stemilt