Townsend gifts $25K to Foundation; Tournament raises over $80K

The 38th Anniversary Clifford Bullard Memorial Golf Tournament raised over $80,000 during the record-breaking event held on Thursday, October 6 at Pinecrest Country Club in Lumberton.

The 2022 tournament will go down in history as one of the best, raising 60% more than the previous year, in which the college raised just over $50,000 in 2021. Since the beginning of the tournament in 1984, the Bullard Tournament has raised more than $730,000.

Gift from John L. Townsend III

Adding to the substantial increase was a generous donation of $25,000 from Lumberton native John L. Townsend III.

“John Townsend grew up in Lumberton, his family was farmers and great Robeson County people, and he loves helping and providing assistance,” said Clifford Bullard, Jr. of the Bullard Restaurant Group. “It’s a great contribution he made. He cares about Robeson County and wants to make it a better place for all of us to live, I can’t thank him enough.”

Bullard says the donation from Townsend and the funds raised during the tournament is not just about Robeson Community College, but about investing in all of Robeson County.

“I’m happy for the college and happy to see the tournament grow, we need to start at the Foundation and that’s really what Mr. Townsend was thinking too. We have a lot of talented students, and we’re helping make a better life for so many smart kids, but many just need some financial assistance…who knows what they can accomplish.”

The tournament held last week was one for the history books, but Bullard says he has his eyes set on a bigger goal.

“The golf tournament was fantastic. We are all very, very interested in education in Robeson County and want to help those talented young kids get assistance and go to college and that’s the idea for the scholarship program,” Bullard said. “Improving the education level in Robeson County will help to improve the quality of life for all of us, so we are just very interested in this amazing cause, it will always be a productive cause.”

“That’s the main reason for raising funds,” Bullard said. “My father used to work at Robeson Community College, he was a farmer but he also worked at RCC. He founded the tournament and he just loved the school, and he knew that we were helping folks in Robeson County that needed assistance to go to college.”

Bullard says that the scholarships provide access for students into the trades so that they can become trained and educated and ultimately, be able to provide a better quality of life for themselves and their families.

“After students get their degrees, they go to work, and become productive citizens,” Bullard said. “Dad was very interested in this, and it’s something that Drew and I wanted to continue in his memory in helping fund scholarships for the school.”

Bullard adds, “I want to thank every single golfer and every single sponsor, and all the staff that helped work the tournament. I also want to thank all the celebrities that came out to join us in this great cause.”

With the jump in revenue raised this year, Bullard says that he looks forward to shattering a new record, possibly next year.

“It did jump a lot this year, and it has got a little bigger,” said Bullard. “I’m just fired up, it was great to see so many in attendance this year, I want to net $100,000 for the tournament and the college, if not next year, definitely by 2024.”

“Let’s all in the county get together and make this goal happen in 24 months for sure, it’s all for a great cause. If we all get together, we can make it happen,” said Bullard.

Tournament Winners

The golf tournament was the signature event of the First Annual Homecoming Week held October 3 – October 7 as the college welcomed home it’s alumni.

The winning team, coming in at First Place in the Tournament went to Bruce Mullis, Adrian Lowery, Ryan Bass, and Mike Chuchacz.

Winning team of RCC 2022 Golf Tournament

Finishing in 2nd place was the team which included Jamie Locklear, Kyland Freeman, Lemark Harris, and Brandon Hunt.

2nd place winners of 2022 RCC Foundation Golf Tournament

Other accolades at the RCC Golf Tournament included:

Hole #7 Closest to the Hole Winner John Oxendine
Hole #10 Closest to the Hole Winner Andrew Bullard
Hole #12 Closest to Hole Winner Richard Lowery
Hole #2 Closest to Hole Winner Adam Ward

The historic tournament consisted of a record number of teams, players, sponsors, and volunteers – with 42 teams, a combined total of 168 players – more than 80 sponsors and 30 volunteers. The tournament featured five celebrity players, UNC Basketball Legends Phil Ford, Al Wood, and Billy Carter; NC State Basketball Legend Dereck Whittenburg; and NC State Football Legend Johnny Evans.

“This event was amazing and we are so thankful that it continues to grow each year. This year we have exceeded all fundraising goals and expectations, we have shattered records, and for that, we are forever grateful to our sponsors, our faculty and staff, and our volunteers,” stated RCC President Melissa Singler. “We could not do any of this without all of you.”

“We thank John Townsend for his amazing gift to the RCC Foundation,” said Singler. “We are so appreciative of this donation; it will make a tremendous impact upon our students, as well as upon our community.”

Singler adds, “We are also very thankful for our continued partnership with the Bullard family, who has worked tirelessly to help raise money for our students year after year.”

These monies raised will go towards supporting the RCC Foundation and the mission of Robeson Community College through providing scholarships for students, as well as funding faculty/staff initiatives that support student success.

“The Foundation would like to extend thanks and appreciation to the Bullard family for continuing to support Robeson Community College, our mission, and our students, and for helping us to make each golf tournament bigger and better each year,” stated Lisa Hunt, Assistant Vice President of Grants and the RCC Foundation. “We also thank John Townsend for his donation, as well as our many other sponsors and volunteers who made this year’s tournament possible.”

Tournament 2022 Major Gift Sponsors

The sponsors for the 2022 tournament are as follows:

Corporate Sponsor: Bullard Restaurant Group

Premier Sponsor: John Townsend

Platinum Sponsors: Mountaire Farms and Robeson Health Care Corporation

Gold Sponsor: Floyd Mortuary and Crematory and Laura Frushone First Citizens Wealth Management

Silver Sponsors: Sam’s Club of Lumberton, M&M Transporting, County Commissioner Wixie Stephens, TEAM iA, Inc., Flo-Tite Valves & Controls, Metcon, S Preston Douglas & Associates, LLC., Uttermost Ministries, Cakes & Pastries, Atlantic Building Components, Emerson Ventures, Campbell Soup Supply Company, Fellow of Christian Athletes, Commissioner Pauline Campbell

Bronze: First Citizens Bank, Alphonzo McRae, Jr., Hunt’s Tire, Bruce Farms, Lumbee Electric Membership Corporation, Two Hawk Employment Services, Lumbee Guaranty Bank, Robeson County Farm Bureau, Healthkeeperz, Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Brady Services, Town of Pembroke, Forms & Supply, Inc., Biggs Park Mall, Howington Office Supplies, First Bank, Saleeby Insurance, Barker Construction Company, Robeson County Office of Economic Development, Commissioners Faline Dial, Tom Taylor, and Judy Sampson, Twilla Allen, and William Culp

SPECIAL THANKS