Copyright Santa Clarita Valley Signal
The College of the Canyons Foundation hosted its annual golf tournament to raise funds for student needs with 140 people participating at the Valencia Country Club on Monday. Shawna Mann, executive director of the foundation, said the funds go to emergency grants, tuition, various school programs, the golf team at COC, along with the foundation itself. “So, I think events serve two purposes. One, of course, is to raise money and the other is community. We want to build relationships with community members, with business owners, all of that sort of thing. And bring them into COC, help them see what we’re doing,” Mann said. When asked why Mann thinks the event is successful after three decades, she said it’s because it is fun and different. “We do different events on different holes every year. This year we have, for the first time, a helicopter ball drop. We’re dropping 1,000 balls from a helicopter and the closest to the hole wins at 2,500 bucks, so we’re doing that,” Mann said. ”We have on one of our holes, we have an air cannon that you can shoot the golf ball with the air cannon instead of hitting it. So, we make it fun. We have some fun prizes this year as well.” Mann wanted to emphasize the efforts of the foundation because the sole focus is on the students and how to help them. “You know, a lot has happened, a lot has changed at COC in the last couple of years. The foundation has been resolute in that mission of supporting students,” Mann said. “So, whether we’re supporting it through a golf tournament, a gala, or some other sort of fundraising, that’s what we’re here to do. And I think that’s the most important thing. I mean, that’s why I’m here.” Dylan Mahoney, the events and marketing coordinator at the foundation, said it was his first time organizing the golf tournament. “We came into it with a couple new activities in mind, and some bigger goals than we’ve set in the past. So, you know, it was, there’s a multifaceted approach for me in terms of our fundraising goals and the new activities that we were going to put on,” Mahoney said. Mahoney said that one thing about taking over the event is that the landscape of how fundraising works is changing. “Differentiating yourself can be really, really difficult. But by incorporating fun activities brought together, by a really important shared purpose, I think that there are ways to really maximize your output; while also maximizing the experience and that’s something that’s really important to us,” Mahoney said. Mahoney added that he was just grateful to be a part of the day and have so many people involved. Myles Starr, who plays on the COC men’s golf team, said it was nice to see all the support for the golf team and for COC. “You know, you come to a community college, you probably don’t think much of it, but then you come out here and there’s people all over and you see a bunch of people who went to College of the Canyons and how highly they speak of it. So, it’s great seeing that,” Starr said. Starr said it felt important to be at an event like the golf tournament because it brings out the community. “It’s great to bring everyone together. You know, everyone has their own lives, especially the people that (have) already graduated. They probably don’t see each other as much. So, bringing everyone back together and for an event like this, it’s great for College of the Canyons,” Starr said. One volunteer with the foundation said she always loves to support the school she went to. “Yeah, I love supporting COC and all the events that they have as well as just supporting the community. So, if I can volunteer for different things, I’ll find those opportunities and someone I know told me about it (the golf tournament),” said Aliyah Valencia, a volunteer at the golf tournament. When asked if Valencia enjoys golf, she laughed and said she has not tried a real course yet but would love to get into it. “I’ve gone to like Top Golf, those places. But I have, I do want to try and get into it,” Valencia said. Valencia added that she loved seeing everyone smiling and playing the sport. “It’s just great vibes. Everyone just seems happy and so happy to help other people as well. So, I feel very warm and everyone’s welcoming as well,” Valencia said.
