The Future Legends Scholarship Fund hosted its annual dinner celebrating scholars and volunteers on December 28 at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club. This long-standing tradition, which honors exceptional scholars and dedicated volunteers, is particularly significant because it originated at the same club where the idea for Future Legends, a tribute to legendary golf pro Chuck Courtney, took root.
The event, which was attended by a group of students, mentors, board members and valued donors, was characterized by an atmosphere of sincere gratitude. President Eric Maness expressed his appreciation to the mentors in attendance, while Board Member Heather Manion expressed her excitement at presenting the outstanding scholars.
Fred Port, retired president of Callaway Golf International, served as emcee, delivering an inspiring speech that emphasized the profound influence of unearned external factors in shaping the course of our lives and emphasized the importance of gratitude for these blessings.
The evening's spotlight was on researcher Austin Powell, who was chosen as this year's keynote speaker. As a UC San Diego medical student pursuing his PhD, Powell shared a compelling story of overcoming a challenging childhood and credited his journey to success to a chance meeting with UC San Diego cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Daniel Gramins. Motivated by these experiences, Powell continues to pursue his dreams of becoming a doctor.
This evening's wonderful dinner was made possible by the generous contribution of an anonymous donor. The Future Legends program's impressive 100% graduation rate is a testament to the unwavering support of the organization's amazing supporter community. Future Legends expresses its deep gratitude to each and every one of them.
As the evening concluded, attendees left not only inspired, but also receiving carefully curated gift bags containing expressions of appreciation and a copy of John Israel's popular book, “The Mister Thank You Project.”
The Future Legends Scholarship looks forward to building on the momentum of this successful event and remains committed to promoting educational excellence and creating Future Legends in the community.
Future Legends is a Rancho Santa Fe-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing mentors and financial support to deserving high school seniors embarking on a college education. In addition to academic support, Future Legends also provides life skills training, empowering scholars by focusing on both education and values.
Established by the RSF Golf Club in 2012 to honor retiring President Chuck Courtney, the program sponsors scholars who study a wide range of disciplines including the arts, biochemistry, computer science, medicine, law, business and environmental sciences at colleges and universities across the country.
Now in its 13th year, the Future Legends Scholarship and Mentorship Program has enabled 31 young men and women to pursue their four-year degrees. In addition, seven researchers are currently working toward graduate degrees.
For more information, visit www.futurelegends.org – Future Legends press release
