SCTCC Veterans Center Awarded $16K

ST. CLOUD -- The HomeFront Resource Center on the campus of St. Cloud Community and Technical College received a $16,500 donation Thursday from a national non-profit organization.

Tee It Up For The Troops is a Minnesota-based organization that raises money for veterans, service members and their families with community golf events. Last year, they held an event at the St. Cloud Country Club that raised a large portion of the donation.

"It's an exciting day," says Tarryl Clark, Chair of the HomeFront Resource Center. "We had hundreds of people who participated in some way -- volunteers or golfers at the event -- who helped raise a good chunk of this money."

Clark, who is also Dean of Sciences, Technology and Math at the school, says they are currently raising money for the design phase of the HomeFront Center.

"The enthusiasm and commitment [seen] from everybody here to continue to be a part of this is really exciting."

"The presentation went very well, it actually was more attended than what I was expecting," says Chuck Benson, a Vietnam veteran and Chairman of Tee It Up For The Troops.

"The critical thing for the community to know is how checks like this come about and if people have an opportunity to support our organization, it would be fantastic so we can do more of what we've done today."

The HomeFront Resource Center, which is expected to open in the fall of 2017, will provide information, counseling, and other services to the veteran community.