12 Mar Foundation Files: Scholarship Programs beginning
The McPherson County Community Foundation turns 25 this year. To mark this milestone, the foundation will be sharing stories and moments from the past 25 years that helped shape its work and impact across McPherson County.
Since we are in the middle of scholarship season we’d thought that we’d look back at the history of the scholarship program. this article looks back at the establishment of the Foundation’s first scholarship that was created in the honor of Gary McNaul.
*Original article from Aug. 15, 2002 McPherson Sentinel*
McNaul Fund close to Goal
The Gary McNaul Memorial Golf Classic in Olathe is held each year to raise funds for the Gary McNaul Scholarship Fund with the McPherson county Community Foundation.
The 2002 classic and additional donations received throughout the year have brought the total of the fund to $6,300 from its original contribution in October, 2001 of $2,500
The Foundation requires a minimum balance of $10,000 to distribute grants. The minimum is to ensure the fund principal will remain intact, pay appropriate management fees and distribute a significant amount of awards each year.
The scholarship fund was developed to honor McNaul, a former McPherson Resident and help assist area students further their education. The primary focus will be for high school senior who pan to play golf and continue their education at a post secondary institution.
Gary was a member of the Mcpherson High golf team and later played at Barton County Community College. He was instrumental in forming a G-Mac invitational approximately 15 years ago for a group of high school friends.
Upon his death in January of 2000, those who had participated in the tournament decided to continue the tradition and donate all proceeds of the event to a charity. The group felt a scholarship with the McPherson County Community Foundation was how it could appropriately honor Gary’s memory.