ABA Foundation Raises $120,000 for Scholarships during ABA Annual Meeting & Marketplace
Elects 2017 Members to Join Board of Governors
During the American Bus Association’s Annual Meeting & Marketplace in Cleveland, the ABA Foundation (ABAF) raised $122,071 for its Fund a Future scholarship program through its live and silent auctions as well as the annual Hard Rock Café’s Afterglow party. This year’s proceeds were 35 percent more than in 2016.
The money raised is in addition to the ABAF Board of Governors voting to raise the amount of 18 scholarships from $2,500 to $5,000 in September 2016. ABA Foundation’s scholarship season began on Dec. 7, 2016 and will run until April 6, 2017.
“Because college costs continue to rise, the ABA Foundation Board of Governors wanted to make a strong investment in our industry’s future leaders,” said ABA Foundation President Peter Pantuso. “We are bestowing $100,000 in scholarships this year and through our generous supporters were able to exceed our goal. By allocating all the money raised during the auctions and Afterglow, we are ensuring that our Fund A Future scholarship campaign can continue making an impact on the next generation of leaders in the motorcoach, travel and tourism industry.”
Also during the ABA Annual Meeting & Marketplace, the following industry leaders joined the ABAF Board of Governors:
Ron Bast, GO Riteway Transportation Group, Germantown, Wis.
Jeff Goldwasser, LaFrance Industries, LaFrance, S.C.
Colleen Laird, Blue Man Group Universal Orlando, Orlando, Fla.
John Percy, Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Francis Tedesco, Academy Bus, Hoboken, N.J.
The Board of Governors is made up of the following industry leaders:
Doug Anderson, Anderson Coach & Travel
Eugene Berardi, Jr., Adirondack Trailways
Brenda Borwege, ABC Companies
Bryan Cole, Super Holiday Tours
Ronald Eyre, Eyre Bus Tour & Travel
Michaela Grundman, CH Bus Sales, LLC
Sara Fuller Hamlin, Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau
Frank Henry, The Martz Group
Tara Hippensteel, Hard Rock International
Tom JeBran, Trans-Bridge Lines
Patti Lloyd, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce/CVB
Michael Power, Prevost
Kate Scopetti, Mid-Atlantic Receptive Services
Mike Trageser, Sands Bethlehem
Karl Webb, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC
Patricia Ziska, Motor Coach Industries