MARCH 15, 2023 www.wintertexantimes.com 22 WINTER TEXAN TIMES Serving Valleywide for 35 years Sales • Parts • Rentals • Service ezridegolfcars@sbcglobal.net www.easyridegolfcars.com 2508 W. Interstate Hwy 2 Mission, TX 78572 Come By And See The New 2023 Yamaha Drive 2 PTV EFI 4 Year Factory Warranty Easy Ride Golf Cars 956-580-3370 Dealer Drive Around In Your Brand New Golf Car Today! parks.” Despite the extraordinary amount of money raised each year by the park’s Winter Texan residents, they say they enjoy themselves in the process, according to Nielsen. “We come down here to have fun and to cater to ourselves,” she said. “Most of us retirees, … we’ve already done our [work] thing. We have a hell of a good time, but we dig deep in our pockets, too.” To make the money-generating events a success, Diane Mork, Ropa style show organizer, said a lot of credit has to go to the residents. “People are so good here,” she said. “They’re outgoing. They volunteer. They do all the things that make things run well …. And that makes it fun.” Along with making generous donations, park residents devote much time to organizing and working for the money-generating events that fund the scholarships. A Unique Auction Along with the Ropa Style Show, the Scholarship Committee sponsored another major event to help bolster the park’s scholarship fund -- its annual auction. What’s unusual about the auction is that residents donate all the items and then often pay exorbitant prices to buy them back. Nothing is solicited from area merchants or other sources. Park newcomers said they were amazed when a non-descript purplish necktie sold for $900. They learned from the auctioneer that the same tie has been returned and re-auctioned every season for at least the last 10 years. Another staple of the auction in recent years was a pair of suspendered underwear that provided giggle material for the audience. The apparel, too, went for a large sum, and will, no doubt, be on the auction block again next year. (These two clothing items are exceptions to the auction’s guidelines because clothes and shoes are excluded from the list of items that can be donated.) This year’s resident-donated items included large bundles of giant zip ties, a spray-on make-up kit, an antique table, giant crossed holiday candy canes that light up, an air conditioner, a wine fridge, a guitar, a rowing machine, matted and framed pencil drawings, an oil painting, an RC car, RC drones and so much more. Despite the variety of auction items, baked goods have been its biggest money maker. For example, this year a lemon meringue pie sold for $200, while bread pudding sold for $100. Mork said she paid $70 for a quart-sized bag of homemade caramel corn. “It’s worth it to me,” she said. “And knowing it’s going to a good cause makes it easy.” Scholarships for Local Students PSJA Memorial ECHS Financial Aid Officer Erica Denae Ramos said students value the residents’ efforts, especially after she explains the park’s generosity to her students. “Not only do the Alamo Palms Winter Texans fundraise all year just for these scholarships,” she said, “but some residents have given substantial memorial donations to this fund.” After hearing this, she said, the students have an “Ah ha!” moment like “I didn’t know that! Wow! This is that much money that’s available?” “It’s an awesome surprise for them when they realize the total amount of the residents’ amazing generosity,” the educator said, “… and then where the money comes from.” This year 56 of 450 Memorial High School seniors applied for the scholarships. The seven-member Scholarship Committee works with Ramos to review all applicants’ portfolios, which include such items as their high school transcript, college entrance scores, a resume, an essay and community service activity, as well as their accomplishments and goals. “The scholarship opportunity shows our students that the Alamo Palms community cares about them … that Winter Texans care,” Ramos said. “Granted, Winter Texans will hunt down a deal… a $1 or $2 burger – and they’ll travel for it. At the same time, they’re unbelievably generous. And unbelievably kind. And that is the reputation that precedes Alamo Palms’ residents.” On March 10, the Scholarship Committee invited all 22 scholarship recipients and their parents to a reception. There students spoke about their goals and how the scholarships will impact their futures. A highlight of this ceremony was when the Quilt Committee (cochaired by Cindy Biggerstaff and Beverly Bailey) surprised the 22 selected students with quilts matched to their personalities (based on their student essays). Each of the 22 quilts is valued at a minimum of $300 for material and cost of quilting, not including labor. Some quilts take up to a month to complete. The reason the Quilt Committee donates their creations, according to Ramos, is that “they want to make sure those students going away to college will take a bit of ‘home’ with them… something hand made with love.” “It’s a beautiful surprise,” Ramos said. “I’ve often heard the kids say, ‘Honestly, the quilt alone was worth being selected.’ They’ve loved their quilts, which have been unbelievably popular.” Park Benefits The many different groups of residents pulling together and contributing to the scholarship effort has impressed Delaila Zarate, Alamo Palms Park Manager. “More than anything I love the unity it brings to the park and to the residents,” she said. “I think the excitement that the scholarship effort generates spreads from the Alamo Palms Park community to benefit the greater Alamo community, all the while contributing to students’ needs.” She said she’s proud of her residents’ efforts because so much goes into every event. “It seems that there are no boundaries to what our residents can and will do,” Zarate said. “Something tells me they’re going to get even more creative. They’re great!” SCHOLARSHIP From pg. 2
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