L to R: Bhavna Patel, Eduardo Sanchez, Janie Butler, Udo Koopmann, Nancy Broaddus, John Zaremba, Janet Shaw, Bill Wallace
Our Story
Many great ideas have simple beginnings, and the Step Forward program is no exception.
In 2018, a Governors Club employee had a casual conversation with a Club member where the employee described the challenges of pursuing and financing a college degree while working full time. This type of perseverance and hard work in an individual is admirable and led several Club members to the concept of helping and encouraging committed employees or their dependents to further their education. A proposal was made in October of 2018 to the Board of Directors of the Governors Club to form an independent organization that would provide scholarship funds with the intent of supporting a broad spectrum of educational opportunities. These opportunities range from vocational training and certification; high school equivalency certification (GED); English as a Second Language; and college courses leading to an undergraduate or graduate degree. This opportunity can provide GC employees with a “Step Forward” in pursuing their education and career aspirations. The Governors Club Board endorsed the approach and encouraged the founders to move ahead. In the spring of 2019, Step Forward formed its Board of Directors and incorporated in North Carolina. The organization was then granted not-for-profit status by the IRS. Due to the economic hardships brought on by Covid-19 and the generosity of GC members, in 2020 the maximum grant was increased from $3,000 to $4,000 per year. Just four years later, the 2023 level was $7,000. In addition, the organization awards one annual $12,000 scholarship called the “Governors Scholarship.”
Since its establishment, Step Forward has awarded 80 scholarships to employees, totaling more than $380,000. Specifically, a total of 42 awards have gone to employees and 38 to dependents of employees. The SFSF expects applications, recipients and average awards to increase in the coming years and plans to continually review the scope of its programs. As an example, in early 2020, the SFSF established a mentoring program to provide career and educational counseling to current and future applicants as well as to recipients. In 2022, the organization began to cover the costs of application/deposit/test fees and housing deposits. Step Forward also initiated a program to provide financial support for recipients who accept non-paying or low-paying internships, providing stipends as of 2023. Our long-term goal is to significantly increase the number of Club members contributing to this program, and to assure that this opportunity will continue to be available to our outstanding employees and their dependents for years to come.
Our Board of Directors
Nancy Broaddus John Zaremba Udo Koopmann Eduardo Sanchez Janie Butler Bhavna Patel Janet Shaw Bill Wallace
President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Director Director Director Director
Committees
Nominating and Governance - Bill Wallace Chair; John Zaremba, Janet Shaw Members Marketing and Communications - Janet Shaw Chair; Keith Peterson, Dan Kaferle. and Jillian O’Connell Members Scholarship - John Zaremba Chair; Jim LoFrese, Bill Wallace, Carol Smithwick, Richard Andre Members Fundraising - Bhavna Patel Chair; Susan O’Neal, Paige Dixon, Daphne Marlowe, Jane Mayberry, Deepti Mehta, Members Mentoring - Janie Butler Chair; Marc Ingelbinck, Larry Manaugh, Kate Brekke, Leslie Strohm, Jim Morrow, Members Investment - John Zaremba Chair; Udo Koopmann, Cynthia Frost, and Bill Wallace Members
Other Critical Volunteers
Barbara Bourn - Website Design and Maintenance Pam Caruso – Website Maintenance Jillian O’Connell – Information Technology and Print Design Peter Pront - Legal and Tax Guidance LET’S STEP FORWARD NOW