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.
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.
Board of Directors
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Nancy Broaddus
Janet Shaw Udo Koopmann Eduardo Sanchez Janie Butler Karen Degner David Hopkins Larry Manaugh Jane Mayberry |
President
Vice President Treasurer Secretary Director Director Director Director Director |
Committees
Fundraising and Events - Jane Mayberry, Chair; Paige Dixon, Daphne Marlowe, and Bhavna Patel, Members
Information Technology - Karen Degner, Chair; Pam Caruso, Amy Poisson, Members
Investments - Eduardo Sanchez, Chair; Cynthia Frost, Udo Koopmann, and Bill Wallace, John Zaremba, Members
Marketing and Communications - Janet Shaw, Chair; Dan Kaferle, Jillian O’Connell, and Keith Peterson, Members
Mentoring - Janie Butler, Chair; Kate Brekke, Marc Ingelbinck, Sandi Lehrman, Larry Manaugh, Jim Morrow, Leslie Strohm, Members
Nominating and Governance - Larry Manaugh, Chair; Janet Shaw, Member
Scholarship - David Hopkins, Chair; Richard Andre, Carol Smithwick, Bill Wallace, and John Zaremba, Members
Information Technology - Karen Degner, Chair; Pam Caruso, Amy Poisson, Members
Investments - Eduardo Sanchez, Chair; Cynthia Frost, Udo Koopmann, and Bill Wallace, John Zaremba, Members
Marketing and Communications - Janet Shaw, Chair; Dan Kaferle, Jillian O’Connell, and Keith Peterson, Members
Mentoring - Janie Butler, Chair; Kate Brekke, Marc Ingelbinck, Sandi Lehrman, Larry Manaugh, Jim Morrow, Leslie Strohm, Members
Nominating and Governance - Larry Manaugh, Chair; Janet Shaw, Member
Scholarship - David Hopkins, Chair; Richard Andre, Carol Smithwick, Bill Wallace, and John Zaremba, Members
Other Critical Volunteer
Legal and Tax Guidance - Peter Pront
LET’S STEP FORWARD NOW
LET’S STEP FORWARD NOW
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Step Forward Scholarship Fund, Inc.
P.O. Box 4631
Chapel Hill, NC 27515-4631
[email protected]
Step Forward Scholarship Fund, Inc. is a 501c3 organization. EIN #83-3175469