ST. LOUIS, MO – The Kwame Foundation raised more than $100,000 to fund higher education scholarships through the 10th annual Kwame Foundation Golf Tournament. More than 150 golfers participated in the tournament, which was held in August at the Norman K. Probstein Golf Course at Forest Park in St. Louis.The Kwame Foundation endows approximately $150,000 a year in scholarships and grants at colleges and universities across the country that improve educational opportunities for minorities.

“We all know that education is the equalizer,” said Tony Thompson, co-founder of the Kwame Foundation and CEO/Chairman of Kwame Building Group. “Kids need a good education, no matter where or how they get it.”

Several dignitaries including St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay, City Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones and state Rep. Steve Webb attended.

In addition to the presenting sponsor Kwame Building Group, major sponsors included Ascension Health, Experience BKD, Kwame/Green, New Space, Wells Fargo and World Wide Technology. Corporate sponsors included ARAMARK, Black & Veatch, Bodley Group, HDR, JACOBS, Kozney Wagner, Mississippi Lime and Webster University.

Students awarded scholarships through Kwame Foundation spoke at the event about their what the support meant to them. In addition to the scholarships, Kwame Foundation sponsors a spring-break bus tour of Historically Black Colleges and Universities for local students.

The golf tournament winners included Curtis Goliday for “Closest to the Pin” and Brian Hoelscher and Kathleen Burns for “Longest Drive.”

The Ascension Health team of Mike Oligschlaeger, Jeff Bader, Jason Campbell and Steve Spratt won first place in Flight A. The Webster University team of Dr. Benjamin Akande, Caprice Moore and guests won second place.

The ARAMARK team won first place for Flight B. A team including Eugene Taylor, James Bowen, Chauncey Davis and Andre Stevens won second place.

The Kwame Foundation Golf Tournament funds scholarships and endowments at these colleges and universities:
• Barnes-Jewish Hospital College of Nursing
• Fontbonne University School of Journalism
• Harris-Stowe State University School of Business
• Interdenominational Theological Center
• Jackson State University
• Maryville University School of Education
• Morehouse School of Medicine
• Ranken Technical College
• St. Louis Community College
• Saint Louis University College of Arts and Sciences
• Saint Louis Zoo
• Tyrone Thompson Institute for Nonviolence
• University of Kansas School of Architecture
• University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law
• University of Missouri-St. Louis
• Washington University School of Engineering
• Washington University School of Medicine
• Webster University School of Business & Technology.

Kwame Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization founded by Kim and Anthony Thompson of Kwame Building Group to develop a doorway of opportunity into the professional world for youth in underprivileged communities through mentoring programs and scholarship opportunities. For more information, visit www.kwamefoundation.org or call 314.862.5344

Captions:
1 – St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and KWAME CEO Anthony (Tony) Thompson
2 – Dr. Michael Middleton, University of Missouri-Columbia
3 – Pat Buehring, Pulaski Bank; guest; Lindsay Hummer-Ku and Kevin Flynn, University of Kansas
4 – Ameren UE Team
5 – Brian Hoelscher, Metropolitan Sewer District; Tim Lewis of Saint Louis University
6 – Webster University team
7 – Joe Eppy of Experience BKD; Mark Prouhet, Wendy Henry, Bryan Krueger

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com 
314.961.9772

Source: Kwame Building Group – News