Sep 25, 2014

In a record-breaking gala Sept. 19 at Tuscan Courtyard in Texas City, College of the Mainland Foundation grossed more than $102,000 to help students reach their career and educational goals.

Donations through underwriting, ticket sales and a live and silent auction contributed to the event’s success. All funds raised over gala costs support COM student scholarships, particularly scholarships for part-time students.

“If you ask any student in any survey why they don’t go to college, the reason is almost always money,” said Mary Ann Amelang, executive director of COM Foundation. “The money raised at the gala will allow us to offer more scholarships to part-time students, who make up a majority of COM students. The scholarships help ensure that costs do not keep any student from pursuing their education.”

The sold-out gala honored the Doyle family for their contributions to the community and education.

“Faith, family, career and community—those four things epitomize the Doyle family way of life,” Bob Senter, partner at Rust-Ewing Insurance, shared at the gala.

More than 40 individuals and businesses underwrote the gala and donated auction items. Corporate underwriters included Del Papa Distributing, Marathon Refinery, AMOCO Federal Credit Union, Texas First Bank, South Land Title LLC, A&A Machine & Fabrication LLC, Whitley Penn LLC, Mitchell Chuoke Plumbing Inc., Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP, Trey Industries Inc., Dow Chemical Co., Associated Credit Union, Mainland Testing, Murray-Lobb PLLC, Clark Industries, Safety Council of Texas City, Texas-New Mexico Power Co., Bay-IBI Group Architects, Emken-Linton Funeral Home, Hugh Landrum and Associates, Tennille Inc., Galveston Symphony Orchestra, Bay Group Media, McRee Ford, Kodiak Metals Recycling, Oiltanking, Eastman Chemical Co., Mainland Tool and Supply, Joseph Hoover AIA + Associates, Bracewell and Giuliani Law Firm, Texas Farm Bureau, Moody National Bank, CenterPoint Energy, Kleen Janitorial Supply Co., and McLemore Building Maintenance Inc.

Individual underwriters include Terry and Rosalie Kettler, Gary and Kitty Potter, Ivan and Linda Langford, Jason and Rachel Delgado, Roney and Patricia McCrary, Ralph and Linda Holm, Jimmy and Mary Cortinas, and Robert and Lee Ardell.

This fall COM Foundation awarded nearly 100 scholarships, a number that will increase with recent donations.

Established in 1972, COM Foundation is a nonprofit organization providing funding for student scholarships through corporate and private donations.