GP M.A.D.E. Foundation celebrates one year anniversary

The GP M.A.D.E. Foundation celebrated its first anniversary as an organization April 24.

In its first year, the foundation gave out 24 Scholarships totaling $48,000 to low-income students to attend college, university or vocational trade schools in Missouri.

Additionally, the foundation donated approximately $62,000 in grants to organizations assisting children & youth facing lymphoma & leukemia cancers, physical challenges, & economic & social challenges. The biggest donations of which were two $15,000 grants to Wonderland Camp and Lymphoma/Leukemia Society.

The GP M.A.D.E. Foundation raised its funds in the form of a very successful inaugural golf tournament that raised approximately $118,000. GP M.A.D.E. also received funds from a game day event that netted more than $15,000. $3,750 of the proceeds went to the Mizzou Tiger Scholarship Fund.

Coach Gary Pinkel gives out 24 scholarships

Coach Pinkel awarded 24 scholarships through the GP M.A.D.E. Foundation on April 2. Pinkel and GP M.A.D.E. board member Mike Fenner hopped on a Zoom call to surprise the 25 students who did not know they were about to receive scholarships.

“They thought this was part of the interview process still, and it was awesome,” Pinkel told ABC17.

Pinkel told the students on the call that this is the first time GP M.A.D.E. has done this, and he thought they were all a great fit for the scholarship.

“There were some incredible stories of what some of these kids have had to overcome to get where they’re at and it’s pretty awesome,” Pinkel said.

GP M.A.D.E. plans on handing out scholarships every year to continue making a difference every day.