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Dinner raises money for college bound city residents
Scholarship fund has collected $100,000 since its inception
By Gretchen Knaup
Silicon Valley Chapter of the Western Manufactured Home Association met on May 16, for its routine monthly dinner, yet the night was anything but routine. The chapter became the first organization to donate money to a new college scholarship fund for students who reside in mobile home communities, in the amount of $600. By the end of the evening, that number skyrocketed to $1,600.
"We are just so happy to be a part of it," said association President Ron Sweagles. "We are very excited about the program. It is giving opportunities to children in our communities that they wouldn't have had,"
The money primarily is raised by having association dinners and raffle giveaways.
The fund's founder, Greg Evans, was very surprised about the additional $1,000 in donations. He said he had never had it happen before.
The fund was started two years ago in the name of Greg's father, Frank G. Evans. He started the fund in his father's name after he died.
"I was thinking about some way to immortalize my dad," Evans said. "He really truly loved the mobile home community, and he always insisted that I go to college. Those were the two most important things to him, so, one day it occurred to my mother and me to start this organization. Now we have over $100,000."
To qualify for the fund, candidates must live in a park that is part of the Western Manufactured Home Association. They must have high academic achievements in addition to doing extracurricular activities, and be a high school senior. In addition, they must write an essay, telling about their goals for the future. "These are exceptional people. It gives them a chance to take that first step," Evans said. He continued to say, "We get a lot of diverse people doing this. Our goal is to be able to give a full ride, but right now we are just trying to get them started."
Sweagles first learned of the fund at a charity golf tournament last year when he met the recipients of the scholarship money. Sweagles is owner and manager of Willow Ranch in Sunnyvale. According to Sweagles, the Western Home Association is the first to donate money to the fund, and they hope that, by doing this, other associations will follow in their footsteps. "It is by your generosity that others will follow. You set the precedent," Evans said at the dinner.
Individual association members donated the initial $600 before the dinner. The members raised $500, and gave another $100 in the name of Anne Olson, a Sunnyvale park owner who recently retired.
However, a member that builds manufactured homes said he would donate $100 with every home that he built. Another $500 was added by Advantage Homes, which then was matched by another $500 from California Southwestern Insurance Agency.
William Hanks, president of the Western Manufactured Homes Association of California, attended the dinner to address the chapter, on both its hard work and the current legislation regarding mobile homes in California.
"I've been traveling a lot lately and have spoken at many association meetings, and you all are one of the most active groups right here," Hanks said. "This is the biggest turnout I've seen."
According to Hanks, they are trying to get away from the name affordable housing, and into more of a valued home image. "The quality is there. You get more for your money," he said.
Evan's agreed, adding, "This is a chance to give back to the community. We need to put out the good word. We do a lot of good things, and we need to tell people about it."
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
