The South Georgia Association Ignite the Flame dinner recently raised over $31,000 for Welch College according to David Williford, Vice President for Institutional Advancement.
Williford said, “Welch College is thankful for the tremendous work the South Georgia Association has done over the last eight years in raising over $188,000 for the Ignite the Flame dinners in their area. The twenty-one churches in the association began working with Welch Fund director Mike Edwards in 2012 to raise $10,000 that first year.”
In 2013, a donor pledged to match $10,000 if the association could raise at least that much, and they succeeded! This challenge has continued since that time, and the churches have responded and increased their support, bringing in over $31,000 at this year’s dinner.
Edwards said, “The South Georgia Association dinner success is largely credited to the hard work of the dinner co-chairmen Rick Cason (Ebenezer Free Will Baptist Church) and Wayne Miracle (New Life Fellowship Free Will Baptist Church) and their willingness to promote the dinners.”
Seven states currently have Ignite the Flame dinners (AR, GA, IL, MO, MS, NC, SC). “Welch College is thankful for the support from all the different churches and associations and would love to start dinners in more locations,” Edwards said.
The Ignite the Flame dinners provide an opportunity for Welch to promote a growing relationship with local churches, share college programs of study with high school students, report on Welch events, and supply a unique way for churches to invest in the lives of our students.
For more information on how your association and state can host an Ignite the Flame dinner, please contact Mike Edwards at mike.edwards@welch.edu.