National Philanthropy Day, celebrated annually on November 15, is a day that signifies the importance of working together for the common good. Acts of philanthropy come in all different shapes and sizes, and on National Philanthropy Day, no act of kindness goes unnoticed.
At Classic Turf, one of our core values is giving back, and our company has been fortunate to be in the position to be able to donate time and resources to our community.
Another foundational belief we share as a team is recognizing where you came from and how you got there – never forgetting those that were there for you along the way. To that end, Classic Turf has made a point to find meaningful ways to contribute to the schools and universities that helped us get where we are today.
Recently, our donation of four state-of-the-art post tension tennis courts to the Rumsey Hall School in Washington, CT, and the unveiling of the Eren Family Tennis Center, highlights our deep connection to the school. Vice President John Eren is an alumni (class of1997) and member of the Board of Trustees. Kate Eren, Director of Finance, is the treasurer of the Rumsey Circle Parent Association, and John and Kate’s daughters, Avery and Alexandra, attend the school. Director of Sales Ryan Conroy is also an alumni.
“It has been an honor contributing to the school,” says John. “Rumsey has been such a big part of my life for such a long time and it felt right to be able to donate these tennis courts. It is our hope that these facilities will help Rumsey promote and obtain future students for years to come.”
Beyond our donation to Rumsey Hall School, Classic Turf has also contributed significantly in recent years to Southern Connecticut State University’s Day of Caring, the University’s annual fundraiser devoted to raising funds to enhance scholarships and provide financial assistance to students. Over the past two years, we’ve contributed over $20,000 to the University.
“Our family has strong ties to SCSU,” says Kate Eren. “We are proud to contribute annually to the Day of Caring. Our hope is that our donations help students at SCSU continue their education in the warm and friendly environment that we were so lucky to experience.”
Both John and Kate Eren received their MBAs from SCSU, encouraged by John’s parents every step of the way – Classic Turf President Tumer Eren and Dr. Ruth Eren, Professor Emerita. Dr. Eren has held several positions at SCSU, including the Director for the Center of Excellence on Autism Spectrum Disorders and Chair of the Department of Special Education/Reading in the School of Education.
“Southern has given me the opportunity to have a very rewarding career in education,” Dr. Eren told SCSU’s Alumni Magazine. “Now the university has given our son and daughter-in-law, with their recently earned MBAs, an opportunity to lead the family company and continue its legacy of philanthropic support.”
Through charitable donations like these, Classic Turf seeks to have a greater impact than once-a-year acts of kindness. We want to help improve lives, whether that be through scholarships that will help a student pursue their dreams, or tennis courts that can be enjoyed for generations. National Philanthropy Day may only come around once a year, but generosity and giving back are acts of kindness that are often on the minds of the Eren family and Classic Turf.
