On September 8, 2025, the Peralta Colleges Foundation hosted the annual “Dr. William (Bill) Riley Swing for Student Success Golf Tournament” at the Sequoyah Country Club in the Oakland Hills. The golf tournament is the major annual fundraising event for the Foundation, which provides students at Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College with much-needed financial resources, including scholarships, grants, and mentoring. What a day! This year, the tournament “sold out” with 144 golfers participating, supported by sponsors and volunteers out on the 18-hole course, and a great time was had by all.
Right before the tournament began, Dr. Bill Riley – former PCCD trustee who now serves as the chair of the Peralta Colleges Foundation board of directors – announced that we had already raised far more than last year’s record of $200K. Margie Platero, Development Manager for the Peralta Colleges Foundation, later confirmed that the event grossed over $250K this year. The golfers continued their generosity by making donations out on the course, and after dinner, Peralta Community College District Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson got to serve as auctioneer, encouraging some fierce bidding wars over donated gifts, including a case of wine and a jersey autographed by NBA superstar Steph Curry.
Amaya Proctor, a Berkeley City College business major, received the Berkeley study abroad scholarship. "Thank you so much for your generosity for donating," Amaya shared. “Thanks to your generosity, I’m one of the 1% of college students who will have the opportunity to study abroad.” A few days after the tournament, she flew to the UK, where she is now attending the University of Westminster in London, a dream made possible by the Peralta Colleges Foundation scholarship.
Tuguldur Natsagdorj, a math major from the College of Alameda, spoke about the peace of mind the scholarship provided. "The tuition, health insurance, and transportation get really expensive, and that was, I would say, the best thing you're helping with the scholarship," Tuguldur said. "It also gave me something just as important, which was peace of mind. And just knowing that there are people who will support us as students and who are willing to help us, it really took some weight off my shoulders."
Davina Malbrough, a Merritt College student majoring in business administration, shared how the scholarship helped with housing insecurity, an issue for many students. Davina, who maintains a 4.0 GPA, shared, "I would like to thank everybody who donates to the Peralta Foundation... it's definitely a wonderful opportunity to have gotten that scholarship." Davina also noted how the support helped her lead, motivating her to become the president of the student body at Merritt.
Cat Redding, a fashion design major at the College of Alameda, reflected on the renewed commitment the scholarship gave her. "In a practical sense, this award allowed me to update my supplies, purchase my summer semester books, and focus on my studies. However, this award also encouraged me to continue striving in search of further challenges. The Peralta Colleges have been the highlight of my academic career. I’m now prepared to work in the fashion industry. Thank you so much!”
Chancellor Gilkerson also expressed her gratitude. “I want to thank all our generous sponsors, including DHE Computer Systems, Future Flooring Group, PG&E, Alten Construction, WR Forde, Kitchell, and many others. We're just so grateful for the ways in which you support our community, building brighter futures for our students," she said. “A big thank you goes to the event planning committee, including chair Mahari Wise, co-chairs Dr. Bill Riley and Gail Pendleton, Margie Platero, and all of the incredible volunteers from across the district and community. Great job, team! I also want to thank Board President Louis Quindlen, COO Greg Nelson, and all the Peralta staff who helped make it a successful event. Thank you!”
More photos from the golf tournament can be found here in the Peralta Colleges SmugMug archive.
Our next big Foundation event is coming up on Saturday, October 18th, at Merritt College with the Peralta Pumpkin Pursuit, a 5K run/walk. Visit www.peralta.edu/5k to register. That will be another day of friendly competition and raising funds for students.