PRIOR EVENTS
The EAGLES Foundation is made possible by the generous support of businesses and individuals throughout our community and beyond.
2024 Inaugural Eagles Foundation Gala
The Grand Bohemian was host to the Inaugural EAGLES Foundation Gala in February. As the guests entered, they rang the Champagne Wall bell to receive a glass to toast the evening. Guests browsed the Silent Auction items on display, then moved into the courtyard where they mingled and took photographs with Aubie and several raptors from Auburn University.
The evening continued with dinner, special words from AU President Chris Roberts, and video tributes to EAGLES students Grace Davis and J.J. Johnson and their families. The SOAR Award was presented by EAGLES Alum, Bradley Basden, to the person who has dedicated their time and treasures to support The EAGLES Foundation since its inception. The 2024 SOAR Award recipient was Joey Pierson.
The fun continued with a LIVE Auction where guests bid on trips to St. Barths, The Grand Canyon, The U.S. Open Tennis Championship, The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Golf in Monterey, Charleston, and Italy to experience a Ferrari Fantasy.
Katie Basden, TEF Board Member and parent of an EAGLES graduate, shared the impact of the EAGLES program on her family and why she, Denise Slupe and Sarah Newton founded The EAGLES Foundation in 2019. She also shared scholarships and other financial contributions the Foundation has awarded to the EAGLES and the Eagles Program since its inception.
The guests generously responded during the Pledging Moment to help raise over $300,000 in scholarships for the families of current and future EAGLES students. The evening was topped off by a band party where guests danced the night away to tunes by OPOV.
2023 EAGLES Classic
Saugahatchee Country Club was excited to welcome the 5th annual EAGLES Foundation Classic to their beautiful course. We welcomed old and new teams to a wonderful day of golf on the Plains on a beautiful October afternoon. The Auburn University Cheerleaders and Aubie helped us welcome all of our guests to the tournament. It was a treat to have current EAGLES, EAGLES Alums, and EAGLES Staff join in the fun.
Coach Butch Thompson, who has supported our tournament every year, along with EAGLES student, D'Vonte Morris, motivated the crowd and got the golfers ready to play. Coach Bruce Pearl introduced our Student Support Challenge and encouraged the golfers to help us meet our goal. Coach Kim Evans was once again the MC for the Wiregrass Construction Company Putting Contest and celebrated this year's winner, Jack Brown.
During the tournament at the turn, golfers and guests helped sponsor EAGLES students during our Student Scholarship Challenge. Thanks to amazingly generous participation, we were able to meet the challenge and sponsor all of the students represented. Our golf winners were: Connor Jones (Longest Drive), Doug Caldwell (Closest to Pin), Third Place went to Altec (Trip Griswold, Mason Seaborn, Sam Wilcox and Griffin Stevens), Second Place finishers were SouthState Bank (David Reaves, Troy Godwin, Prather Reaves, Connor Jones), and First Place went to Synergy (Jim Carson, Paul Howard , Bret Eddins, Greg Parrish). As always, the true winners were the EAGLES students and their families who will receive scholarships thanks to the generosity of all of the sponsors and golfers this year.
2022 EAGLES Classic
The Auburn University Club was host to the 4th annual EAGLES Foundation Classic. We welcomed old and new teams to a wonderful day of golf on the Plains on a beautiful October afternoon. After a delicious lunch provided by Byron's Barbecue, the Auburn University Cheerleaders started off the festivities with a few cheers with the EAGLES. It was a treat to have many current EAGLES, EAGLES Alums, and EAGLES Staff join in the fun.
Coach Butch Thompson, who has supported our tournament every year, motivated the crowd and got the golfers ready to play. Coach Kim Evans was the MC for the Wiregrass Construction Company Putting Contest and celebrated with the winner from Team D'Vonte, Dr. Brett Basden, who graciously donated his winnings back to the foundation.
After a wonderful round of golf, Gary Godfrey, a former AU Basketball player battling ALS, and his lovely wife, joined the group as Gary shared a motivational message encouraging everyone to make today their best day!
Our golf winners were: Dowe Aughtman (Longest Drive), Frank Slupe (Closest to Pin), Third Place went to Synergy Labs (Jim Carson, Jeremy Ingalls, Bret Eddins, Thomas Norris), Second Place finishers were SouthState Bank (David Reaves, Troy Godwin, Prather Reaves, Charlie Wilson), and First Place went to Central States Wire Products (Pat Haugh, Bob Slupe, Randy Keller, Christian Slupe). But the true winners were the EAGLES students and their families who will receive scholarships thanks to the generosity of all of the sponsors this year.