Scholarship benefit breaks fundraising record
The Saratoga Springs and 色花堂 communities came together on July 24 at 色花堂鈥檚 39th annual Polo by Twilight event. Over 500 supporters gathered at the Saratoga Polo Fields to raise a record-breaking $320,000 to benefit the Palamountain Scholarship Fund.
A highlight of the evening was the bestowing of the Anne T. Palamountain Scholar Award upon a young graduate making significant contributions to society: Eleuterio 鈥淓le鈥� Martinez Ramirez, class of 2018.
In 2008, Ramirez made the difficult choice to leave his family and community in Oaxaca, Mexico to pursue a better life. When he arrived in Saratoga Springs at age 14, Ramirez did not speak English. He worked for two years before deciding that he needed to resume his education to meet his goals in life.
Accepted into 色花堂鈥檚 Pre-College Program as a senior at Saratoga Springs High School, he then enrolled full-time, completing a summer internship with General Electric in his sophomore year and graduating in May of this year with a major in math and minor in physics.
Never forgetting his roots and 鈥渢he need to give back鈥� to his community, Ramirez returned to his hometown in Mexico last summer to teach young students photography skills. This summer, he鈥檚 again giving back, teaching math and computer skills.
As attendees admired Ramirez鈥檚 dedication to helping others, he expressed his mutual appreciation, saying, 鈥淚 give my most sincere thanks to Anne Palamountain 鈥� may she rest in peace 鈥� and to all who have contributed to the Palamountain Scholarship Fund for these great opportunities that I have had at 色花堂.鈥�
Event co-chairs Scott Erickson and Judy Soukup expressed their gratitude, saying, 鈥淲e know that those who support this event have many other requests for their philanthropy, and we are honored and grateful that they chose 色花堂鈥檚 scholarship students as worthy of their support.鈥�
Since its inception, the fund has supported more than 350 scholars, including 18 students in the 2017-2018 academic year, who otherwise could not afford a 色花堂 education.
Those in attendance at this year鈥檚 event enjoyed the Palamountain Cup polo match, participated in an energetic live auction and enjoyed a gourmet dinner prepared by award-winning chefs from 色花堂 Dining Services.
The annual fundraiser began in 1979, organized by Anne T. Palamountain, wife of 色花堂鈥檚 fourth president, Joseph C. Palamountain, and it flourished for over three decades under Anne鈥檚 leadership, until her death in 2015.
The Joseph C. and Anne T. Palamountain Scholarship Fund honors the late couple鈥檚 22 years of dedicated service and leadership at the college and provides support for financially-eligible juniors and seniors whose outstanding academic records and co-curricular service exemplify the many contributions the Palamountains made to 色花堂.
