The 17th Annual CIRI Golf Classic, held Friday, August 3 at the Anchorage Moose Run Golf Course, raised $100,000 for The CIRI Foundation. The tournament, in its 17-year history, has raised more than $825,000 to fund scholarships, grants, and internships awarded to CIRI original enrollees and their descendants by The CIRI Foundation.
Dr. Terry Simpson, CIRI chairman, talks to the crowd at the CIRI golf banquet.
One hundred and fifty two participants golfed in this year's tournament, making it one of the largest and most prestigious golf tournaments in the state. Money was raised through player's fees and the donations of various Alaskan businesses to help cover tournament costs.
"The volunteers, Anchorage community, tournament co-chairs and Foundation board members Sharon Gagnon and Ed Rasmuson, all helped to make this tournament a success," said Dawn Dinwoodie, tournament director. "Sharon and Ed were instrumental in raising awareness of the foundation and funds for the event. Their efforts and the community's commitment to education have made this tournament one of the premiere golf tournaments in Anchorage."

CIRI board member Terry L. Simpson, MD, was one of two guest speakers featured at this year's banquet. Among the first to receive a scholarship from the foundation, he earned his undergraduate, master's and doctorate degrees from The University of Chicago.
The CIRI Foundation president Susan Anderson
"Education is definitely important," Simpson said. "I am proud that the CIRI board is dedicated to growing The CIRI Foundation's endowment. The ultimate goal is for every shareholder to have an opportunity to further his or her education without a financial burden."
In fact, Simpson and his wife have established a scholarship endowment at Simpson's alma mater, The University of Chicago, to which he donates all of his board fees. "Our intention is for the Simpson-Richards scholarship to fund a CIRI shareholder."

Marjorie "Jorie" Zilys, a CIRI descendant and foundation scholarship recipient, was the other featured speaker. "I stand before you with two computerized office associate certificates to my credit, and the confidence to know that I really can do anything," said Zilys. Zilys is considering continuing her education and attending school outside Alaska to pursue an English degree and perhaps a minor in community relations.
CIRI descendant Majorie Zilys speaks about what it means to be a foundation recipient.
In July, some 217 Alaska Native students were selected by The CIRI Foundation's Education Awards Committee to receive scholarships and grants totaling $429,131 for the 2001-02 academic year. For this year's June 1 and June 30 deadlines, the foundation has received more than 269 student applications, a 26 percent increase over the same period last year. The 2001 CIRI Golf Classic raised the equivalent of 14 percent of the Fiscal Year 2001 budget for educational scholarships and grants.

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