The Step Forward Scholarship Fund (SFSF) announced its 2024-25 recipients at a special dinner Friday, September 6, 2024, at Governors Club. The dinner and program featured a performance by Raleigh violinist Tyler Butler-Figueroa, who shot to national fame as an 11-year-old finalist on “America’s Got Talent” in 2019.
Tyler was diagnosed with a blood cancer when he was 4, and he received chemotherapy for three years, which led him to lose his hair. Because of that, many children would bully him, so Tyler took up the violin as a way of coping. Tyler proved so skilled that he leapfrogged to the show’s quarterfinals before finishing in the Top 10. In a follow-up competition (“America’s Got Talent: The Champions 2”), he finished third. He also has played six shows with “America’s Got Talent: Live On Stage” in Las Vegas.
He has released two extended-play albums: the first, “A Violin Christmas,” was released in November 2022, and the second, “Timeless: Vol. 1,” was released in April. He released his first original song, “No Sleep,” in October.
“We are thrilled to present the extraordinary musical talents of Tyler Butler-Figueroa,” said SFSF President Nancy Broaddus. “Known for his stunning performances as a ‘Golden Buzzer’ finalist on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ Tyler’s journey is a testament to resilience and passion. We eagerly anticipated a night of diverse and captivating music from this remarkable young artist.”
As in prior years, club member Mike Adams provided music during the event’s reception. The dinner was underwritten by SFSF’s corporate sponsors: the BOLD Companies, Gretchen Castorina of Compass Realty, Sean Murray Grading, Inc., and Bland Landscaping.
"At BOLD, we love and support the Governors Club community on both a personal and professional level,” said Chris Ehrenfeld, the companies’ president. “The country club is the heart of our community. And the club's employees, whom the fund supports, are an integral part of making our club special."
Castorina noted that she has sponsored the annual celebration since it began in 2020, and that her backing showcases a passion “for making a positive impact beyond real estate transactions” and highlights a “commitment to supporting GC staff and their families in achieving their dreams.”
"We are proud to continue our support," said Kurt Bland, president of Bland Landscaping. "Governors Club is a special community, and the SFSF effort is testament to that."
“We do a lot of work in the Governors Club, and we have gotten to know a lot of the workers there,” said Sean Murray, owner of Sean Murray Grading, Inc. “We feel the Step Forward Scholarship Fund is an awesome opportunity for the employees, and we are honored to be a part of it.”
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our corporate sponsors for their unwavering support of the Step Forward Scholarship Fund,” Broaddus said. “Their generous contributions cover all operating costs, ensuring that every dollar donated goes directly to student scholarships. Thanks to our sponsors’ long-term commitment, dozens of students have been able to attend college and pursue other educational training opportunities.”
This past spring, the SFSF Scholarship Committee received well over twenty applications for aid totaling more than $150,000. The committee, headed by Dr. John Zaremba, reviewed the applications, letters of recommendation, and conducted in-person interviews before communicating to the SFSF Board of Directors recommended for grants. The awards will range from between $3,000 and $7,000 and will include one $12,000 Governors Scholarship. Over the past four years, the organization has awarded more than 80 scholarships totaling more than $380,000.
“We on the Scholarship Committee have the special opportunity to help bring our applicants’ higher and vocational education dreams into reality,” Zaremba said. “In a sense, we are ‘fellow travelers’ on their journey as many are repeat applicants. Our donors provide the committee this opportunity and we strive to be good stewards of their generosity.”
Tyler was diagnosed with a blood cancer when he was 4, and he received chemotherapy for three years, which led him to lose his hair. Because of that, many children would bully him, so Tyler took up the violin as a way of coping. Tyler proved so skilled that he leapfrogged to the show’s quarterfinals before finishing in the Top 10. In a follow-up competition (“America’s Got Talent: The Champions 2”), he finished third. He also has played six shows with “America’s Got Talent: Live On Stage” in Las Vegas.
He has released two extended-play albums: the first, “A Violin Christmas,” was released in November 2022, and the second, “Timeless: Vol. 1,” was released in April. He released his first original song, “No Sleep,” in October.
“We are thrilled to present the extraordinary musical talents of Tyler Butler-Figueroa,” said SFSF President Nancy Broaddus. “Known for his stunning performances as a ‘Golden Buzzer’ finalist on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ Tyler’s journey is a testament to resilience and passion. We eagerly anticipated a night of diverse and captivating music from this remarkable young artist.”
As in prior years, club member Mike Adams provided music during the event’s reception. The dinner was underwritten by SFSF’s corporate sponsors: the BOLD Companies, Gretchen Castorina of Compass Realty, Sean Murray Grading, Inc., and Bland Landscaping.
"At BOLD, we love and support the Governors Club community on both a personal and professional level,” said Chris Ehrenfeld, the companies’ president. “The country club is the heart of our community. And the club's employees, whom the fund supports, are an integral part of making our club special."
Castorina noted that she has sponsored the annual celebration since it began in 2020, and that her backing showcases a passion “for making a positive impact beyond real estate transactions” and highlights a “commitment to supporting GC staff and their families in achieving their dreams.”
"We are proud to continue our support," said Kurt Bland, president of Bland Landscaping. "Governors Club is a special community, and the SFSF effort is testament to that."
“We do a lot of work in the Governors Club, and we have gotten to know a lot of the workers there,” said Sean Murray, owner of Sean Murray Grading, Inc. “We feel the Step Forward Scholarship Fund is an awesome opportunity for the employees, and we are honored to be a part of it.”
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our corporate sponsors for their unwavering support of the Step Forward Scholarship Fund,” Broaddus said. “Their generous contributions cover all operating costs, ensuring that every dollar donated goes directly to student scholarships. Thanks to our sponsors’ long-term commitment, dozens of students have been able to attend college and pursue other educational training opportunities.”
This past spring, the SFSF Scholarship Committee received well over twenty applications for aid totaling more than $150,000. The committee, headed by Dr. John Zaremba, reviewed the applications, letters of recommendation, and conducted in-person interviews before communicating to the SFSF Board of Directors recommended for grants. The awards will range from between $3,000 and $7,000 and will include one $12,000 Governors Scholarship. Over the past four years, the organization has awarded more than 80 scholarships totaling more than $380,000.
“We on the Scholarship Committee have the special opportunity to help bring our applicants’ higher and vocational education dreams into reality,” Zaremba said. “In a sense, we are ‘fellow travelers’ on their journey as many are repeat applicants. Our donors provide the committee this opportunity and we strive to be good stewards of their generosity.”
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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