Several people came to support the student athletes of GateWay Community College during the fourth annual “Bowling for Books” tournament, Jan. 21, at the AMF Scottsdale Lanes.  The proceeds benefit GateWay student athletes through the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation.

“The overall cost of attending a collegiate institution has skyrocketed over the last few years,” said Jaime Long, GateWay athletics director and softball coach. “So it becomes more and more crucial to support our student athletes in any way possible.”

Berlynn Irwin, a softball player at GateWay, sees fundraising as necessary to support athletics at GateWay. “Fundraisers like Bowling for Books are important because we are a comparatively small college that does not have a big budget for athletics,” said Irwin, who came to GateWay from Arizona Western College and is currently pursuing her associate’s degree in general studies with a background in psychology. “We need that money to be able to compete and grow as a program.”

The Saturday event helped raise $308. As part of the festivities, a number of sponsors contributed items for the silent auction, which raised nearly $400 to benefit athletics. Donations included an autographed picture of Phoenix Suns star Channing Frye, a foursome for a round of golf at Foothills Golf Course, two facial procedures at Turn Back Time Day Spa, four passes to the Phoenix Zoo, four passes to the Renaissance Festival, and many more.

“The funds we received will be a lifeline for student athletes and help them more effectively compete on the field and succeed off of it.”

Irwin sees fundraising as important in helping her and her peers be successful on and off the field.

“In addition to being athletes, we are college students as well which means it can be really hard to get by,” she said. “So having some kind of financial support to pay for school or books will only enhance our educational experience.”

For more information, about giving to GateWay Athletics, send an email to athletics@gatewaycc.edu or visit GateWay Athletics.