Country Club Living - Palm Beach North - December 2025

6 C O U N T R Y C L U B L I V I N G - PA L M B E A C H N O R T H | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 5 Golf and the Future of PalmBeachCounty – By Dean Glorioso | Photos courtesy of Downtown Photo - W hat do the game of golf and the future of Palm Beach County have in common? Plenty, if that round of golf is hosted by Florida’s first public two‑year college. When Palm Beach State launched its annual Golf Classic two decades ago, a tradition started that has grown beyond its intent. Providing scholarships for students since its inception, the Golf Classic has become Palm Beach County’s premier event of its kind. From the direct impact it has on a student’s ability to remain enrolled in classes to the engagement it brings with community leaders, Palm Beach State’s Golf Classic does something that others don’t. Here’s how it works. You join a foursome, register for the Golf Classic, swing for the green, and send a first responder to an emergency situation somewhere between Boca Raton and Tequesta. Yeah, that’s how it works. With 85% of Palm Beach County’s first responders training with the College, chances are high that the person helping you came from Palm Beach State. Also, as 100% of Golf Classic generosity goes to scholarships, young people can stay on solid academic and professional paths, leading to careers that serve our local economy, industries, and businesses. Presented by the Foundation for Palm Beach State College , the 2025 Golf Classic delivered what it always does: hope. On a breezy day under an azure sky in late September, the Royal Palm Yacht and County Club in Boca Raton saw the community converge for fellowship on the fairway and hope for the future. In fact, guests were treated to a glimpse of that future in Everett Robertson, the student representative serving on the Foundation for Palm Beach State’s Board. Still a senior in high school, Everett shared how scholarships and dual enrollment have enabled outstanding academic success, maturity, and opportunities, making clear that the future for Palm Beach County often runs through Palm Beach State. The young man’s inspiring words earned well- deserved accolades and applause as he recalled what drives him to serve. “I can’t go back in time to reassure myself that things will work out, but I can do the next best thing. I can tell today’s students that Palm Beach State has their back with whatever they choose – that this is a place where they can succeed, be supported, and be themselves.” Andria Cunningham, Vice President of Advancement and CEO of the Foundation , reminded everyone that it was relationships that filled the reception room that day. From donors and sponsors to friends and volunteers, the Golf Classic and Foundation are defined by community and personal engagement. “Palm Beach State is the heart of Palm Beach County. If you live, work, or play here, your life is impacted by a Palm Beach State student or graduate. So giving to the College means hope for our young people and a better, healthier, and wealthier community.” CEO Cunningham also previewed golf’s most exciting 2025 news: season tw o of TGL presented by SoFi . The most innovative advancement in professional sports returns on December 28 to SoFi Center, a first-of-its-kind venue on the College’s Palm Beach Gardens campus. Launched in early 2025 by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and TMRW Sports CEO Mike McCarley, TGL fuses advanced technology and live action with teams of top players from the PGA TOUR for two- hour weekly competitions, broadcast live on ESPN from Palm Beach State in Palm Beach Gardens. While the Golf Classic may be done, the opportunity for generosity and impact never is. We don’t need to putt for par or take a mulligan to change a life or the future, including our own. The Foundation for Palm Beach State’s longtime partner FreeWill ensures a secure tomorrow for loved ones and a legacy for ourselves, one that benefits our families and community. Giving to Palm Beach State happens every day in a myriad of ways. Take your pick: the arts, healthcare, trades, and any of 160 programs that are preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s careers, serving all who call Palm Beach County home. GIVE HOPE, MAKE AN IMPACT, BECOME A DONOR | pbsc.edu/foundation Andria Cunningham CEO, PBSC Foundation EMAIL: cunninga@pbsc.edu PHONE: 954-330-5761 Fellowship on the Fairway expert contributor