TCC receives $100,000 for the ‘Raising Our Game’ athletics campaign

Special to the Outlook

Wayne and Betty Edwards have made a gift of $100,000 to support the Raising Our Game, a fund-raising campaign for athletics at Tallahassee Community College. The college made the announcement last Thursday.

 This campaign seeks $3 million in investments for two facility enhancements and endowed student-athlete scholarships.

In order to be competitive regionally and nationally, TCC must maintain the quality of existing athletic facilities, while planning for growth and exceeding our fans expectations. During the last 30 years, with help from donors who share the College’s vision, TCC has been able to tackle short-term upgrades to our aging buildings.

The Raising Our Game campaign focuses on TCC’s long-term plan to renovate and enhance facilities to better serve students and fans.

Scholarships are a pivotal part to recruiting top athletes. Money raised through the campaign will enable TCC to present a complete aid package. More importantly, scholarships enable athletes to pay more attention to their work, on and off the field, and less to making ends meet.

“Supporting the TCC athletics program in their first ever campaign was a very easy decision for my family as we know first-hand the benefits of this program and what it can mean to those seeking to play post-high school sports,” said Wayne Edwards. “We are pleased to be able to provide support.”

The Edwards family has been engaged with TCC athletics for many years. Wayne served on the hiring committee that brought baseball coach Mike McLeod to TCC. Wayne and Betty’s son played first base for TCC Baseball in the 1990s. Back then, TCC athletic facilities were used by FSU as we had the only indoor batting facility in the community. 

“This campaign is so very important,” said Heather Mitchell, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the TCC Foundation. “For many student-athletes in the community college sports world, this is how they get to College. We are grateful to Wayne and Betty Edwards for their support in helping us Raise Our Game.”