“I’m there for Gateway because Gateway was there for me.”
These were the inspiring words that Shannon Hart, a Gateway alumni, shared with the over 230 attendees at the Gateway Foundations’ eighth annual RiverBlast fundraiser.
I am Maryanne McGowan and I had the privilege of serving as the chair for the event that raises funds for students like Shannon who overcome so many obstacles on their pathway to fulfilling careers.
In Shannon’s case, she completed as Associate’s Degree in Transportation Technologies, a male-dominated field and quickly moved up the ranks from $9 hour job to $60,000 a year in management in the auto industry.
This is why I am involved with the Gateway Foundation and why so many community leaders serve on our Foundation Board. It brings extreme joy to see the impact of our service through fundraising and friend-raising for the college through these students’ stories.
This year’s RiverBlast fundraiser raised in excess of $80,000 to support workforce development scholarships, and a student emergency fund.
I want to thank our event sponsors who joined the Gateway Foundation in supporting this event: our presenting sponsor St. Elizabeth Healthcare; our corporate sponsors ORI, Regal Beloit, and Duke Energy; our program sponsor Mason Schilling & Mason; our character sponsor Shelley Funke Frommeyer, CFP of Waddell and Reed; our table sponsors: Fifth Third Bank, Barnes & Noble, Heritage Bank, Thomas More College, Cove Credit Union, Covington Business Council, Forcht Bank, and Mueller Financial; and our media sponsors Cincinnati Magazine and the NKY Tribune.
As Gateway’s President Dr. Fernando Figueroa explains, “Gateway is about helping students develop talents that will enrich their lives and the community.”
I hope you will consider joining me next year for RiverBlast 2018 to contribute to such a worthy cause and enjoy an end of summer Blast!
Maryanne McGowan
Chair, RiverBlast
