Members of the Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club lifted their glasses in a toast to 17 years of providing scholarships to deserving students at the recent Orchid Outreach Cocktail Reception, an annual event honoring recipients and benefactors alike. Guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres – made and served by members of the 40-woman strong committee – at the home of Louis and Adrienne Lower.

“This event is the community’s opportunity to thank our Orchid Island friends and neighbors who generously support our scholarship program,” said committee chair Tracy Lamport, to the crowd gathered around the pool.

Lamport explained that 100 percent of donations to Orchid Outreach directly benefit scholarship recipients. Of the two endowments held at the Scholarship Foundation of Indian River County, one provides scholarships to Indian River County first responders and family members, and another was established for Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club employees and family members. The Orchid Scholarship Endowment at Indian River State College enables county residents in need to attend IRSC.

“To date you’ve contributed to the education of 47 young scholars through Orchid Outreach. This year three of our students either work at Orchid Island or are children of employees here and three of our students are the children of first responders; the men and women who work tirelessly to save lives every day,” added Lamport.

Donna Thrailkill, committee liaison with the Indian River State College Foundation noted, “because of your generosity, we were able to afford each one of them a full scholarship, including books and expenses. Our families are something that we are so proud of, and through your generosity we have enriched their lives beyond their dreams.”

The 2017 Orchid Employee Scholarship recipients were Mariel Castillo, Nicole Martz and Grace Waage and the 2017 Orchid Scholarship recipients were Ashley Scott, Mary Brooks and Allison Fahey.

“This helps me to get one step closer to my dream of becoming a veterinary technician. I probably wouldn’t even be able to go to college if it weren’t for this scholarship,” shared Castillo whose father works at the Orchid Island Golf Club.

The women of Orchid Outreach continue to work tirelessly to help deserving local students, who would otherwise not be able to afford college, to receive the assistance they need to fulfill their dreams.