For the benefit of those who may not know it yet, in 2006 the UPAA Toronto Endowment Fund granted $25,000 to the UP Foundation to help our University keep and maintain some of our best teaching staff, and at the same time provide scholarships to poor but deserving students.

In a meeting last June, the Council decided to adopt a project proposed during the planning session held last May 30, that will raise additional money for our  Endowment Fund. To implement this, we are planning to hold two golf tournaments, one on May 30, 2010 and another on May 29, 2011 from which we aim to raise ONE MILLION PESOS.

The Council created a Golf Project Committee headed by Jess Perucho under the External Relations Group headed by Malou Parcero. Its first meeting was held last July 23 at the Delta Chelsea Hotel. The committee has since then been working hard to lay the groundwork for a successful. So far, the following are important developments:

- An agreement was signed with the Lionhead Golf and Country Club where the two tournaments will be held

- A beautiful marketing package has been created, printed and packaged in impressive personalized high gloss folder. 

- A marketing team has been assembled to solicit corporate sponsorship

- The first corporate partner, Richmond Hill Toyota, has already signed a Memorandum of Agreement with UPAA

- Richmond Hill Toyota will provide a brand new Corolla car for each tournament date as prize for Hole-in-One

- Richmond Hill Toyota will donate funds to the endowment fund (I will touch on this on separate postings)

- Discussion is in advanced stage with Sunlife of Canada for another major sponsorship

- La Salle Alumni has joined hands, and we will solicit the participation of as many other organizations

With preparations having started very early, with the hard work and careful planning of the Golf Committee, the Council feels confident that maximum participation in this benefit golf tournaments will be achieved, enough corporate sponsors will hop on board and sign up, and our target of raising ONE MILLION PESOS will be reached.

WE NEED EVERY ASSISTANCE WE CAN GET FROM ALL MEMBERS. With your full cooperation, and with the grace of God, we hope to succeed in helping our beloved Alma Mater in a very material way.

Please watch out for more details.

joez