EDUCATIONAL TRUST A Message from the Outgoing Trust Chair At the end of 2017, I will be stepping down as chair of the DFI Educational Trust, and retiring from the Board of Trustees. It has been a privilege to have been a founding member of the Trust, as well as to have served the organization for 11 years as a trustee and, in the last 3 years, as chair. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the donors who, during my tenure, have contributed to establishing or growing the 16 scholarship funds that the Trust now administers. Special thanks go out to major funders such as Berkel & Company Contractors, Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Richard Goettle, Thatcher Foundations, Case Foundation, and Condon-Johnson & Associates, whose generous and sizable initial contributions made it possible not only to establish scholarship funds in the name of various industry leaders, but also for these funds to begin awarding scholarships immediately. I appeal to other leading corpor- ations and individuals in our industry to do the same over the coming years. It is also important to recognize the hundreds of individuals who, throughout the years, have made direct donations or participated in fundraising events in support of the Trust’s funds. Individual donors are vital to a nonprofit’s fundraising efforts. In fact, 70 percent of annual contributions to U.S. charities come from individuals. I therefore urge you to make a personal donation to the Trust, no matter what amount you choose. Thanks to the generosity of so many contributors, the Trust currently adminis- ters assets valued at $3.3 million. Since its creation in 2006, the Trust has awarded M. Byrl Williams, P.E., Chair [email protected] $905,000 in scholarships to over 250 students attending colleges and universities across the United States and in Canada. Finally, I would like to thank prior Trust Chairs Dick Short and David Coleman for their efforts and accomplishments, as well as to all the members of the Trust’s Board of Trustees who over the years have contri- buted valuable time and resources to the organization. Thank you to all for your generosity and friendship, and I look forward to your con- tinued support of the DFI Educational Trust. Sincerely, M. Byrl Williams Thank you to the sponsors: Platinum Sponsors • Langan Engineering and Environmental Services • Silman Golf Cart Underwriter • APS Corporation NJ Golf Outing NJ Golf Outing The Annual ACE Mentor Program of New Jersey and DFI Educational Trust Golf Outing Fundraiser was held on August 11 at Royce Brook Golf Club in Hillsborough, N.J. More than 60 golfers hit the links to raise approximately $10,000 to fund scholarships for students studying toward careers in deep foundations, architecture, engineering and construction. Wysockey Fundraising Cruise More than 85 people joined the DFI Educational Trust and Thatcher Founda- tions for the Thomas Wysockey Civil Engineering Scholarship Fundraising Cruise on August 23 on the Chicago River, aboard the Chicago Leading Lady. The event raised approximately $20,000 for the scholarship fund, which honors Thomas J. Wysockey, chairman emeritus of Thatcher Foundations, and benefits civil engineering students with an interest in the deep foun- dation industry studying at any U.S. college or university. Thank you to the sponsors: Platinum Sponsors • IUOE - Local 150 • Thatcher Foundations, Inc. Gold Sponsor • Skyline Steel Silver Sponsors • Amy and Joe McIntosh • Great Lakes Construction Association • Klesman & Company, P.C. • Sterling Lumber Company The Wysockey family DEEP FOUNDATIONS • NOV/DEC 2017 • 67
