As the world continues to adapt to COVID-19, three chapters of the Wire Association International (WAI) remain committed to funding their scholarship programs. These initiatives rely heavily on annual golf tournaments, which serve as their primary fundraising events. Learn more about WAI at https://www.wirenet.org.
2020 WAI Scholarship Programs Overcome Challenges
The pandemic created significant disruptions in 2020, forcing each chapter to adjust its plans:
- The New England Chapter rescheduled its golf tournament and hosted a smaller event.
- The Midwest Chapter canceled its tournament entirely.
- The Southeast Chapter also canceled its event.
Despite these setbacks, each chapter continued to prioritize education funding. The New England Chapter awarded five scholarships, the Midwest Chapter awarded three scholarships, and the Southeast Chapter awarded four scholarships.
2021 Plans Remain Uncertain
Looking ahead, uncertainty still surrounds event planning. The New England and Southeast Chapters have scheduled their tournaments, while the Midwest Chapter continues to evaluate its options.
Even with these challenges, all three chapters remain focused on sustaining their scholarship programs. The impact remains clear through the success of the 12 scholarship recipients from 2020.
Strong Member Support Drives Success
WAI leadership recognizes the dedication of its members. Executive Director Steve Fetteroll emphasized the importance of this commitment:
“We’re very proud of how the chapters have continued to support their scholarship programs. That chapter members are so willing to support the programs says a lot about who they are.”
