Foundation Reports Successful Spring Fundraiser

WINTERVILLE—Strange as it sounds, the Pitt Community College Foundation overcame the coronavirus pandemic this month to raise funds for student scholarships.

After having to abandon plans for an evening of food and entertainment at The Cotton Barn due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the foundation moved forward with the auction portion of the event online. As a result, the organization ended up netting more than $29,000 for PCC student scholarships and various educational activities.

“The value our community has placed on education and helping others in need never ceases to amaze me,” said PCC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Marianne Cox. “Not even a pandemic sweeping the globe could keep our friends from supporting the college and its students through our annual spring fundraiser.

“I’m grateful that, despite the economic hardship created by the pandemic and the significant changes we had to make to our original fundraiser programming, almost all of our event sponsors continued to support it financially.”

According to PCC Event Coordinator Erin Greenleaf, nearly 150 bidders participated in the online auction, which ran from March 23 to April 5 and featured 121 items up for bid. Some of the most popular, she said, were a private musical performance by country singer Bryan Mayer, a painting by accomplished artist and PCC graduate Richard Wilson, and a Blounts Creek getaway.

Greenleaf said additional funding was raised through a drawing for diamond hoop earrings provided by Greenville’s Robinson Jewelers.

04/13/2020