Murder Mystery Dinner Raises Record-Breaking Funds for Scholarship
Post Published On:Thomas University raised a record amount, upwards of $21,000 after expenses, at its second annual Murder Mystery Dinner featuring the Syrup City Players on Thursday, October 5 at the Collins Place Venue in Cairo.
Attendees at the dinner at The Collins Place Venue
The funds were made possible by the generous donations of the event sponsors. The annual dinner is a fundraiser for the Grady County Scholarship Fund, which helps Thomas University students from Grady County achieve academic success.
The funds raised this year will support students from Grady County in the 2024-25 academic year.
Last year’s first annual Murder Mystery Dinner raised upwards of $15,000 after expenses with 37 students from Grady County receiving scholarships to Thomas University for the 2023-2024 academic year.
“We had a great turnout and a record-breaking event,” Kurt Stringfellow, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Athletic Director, said. “We are thankful for those involved who helped raise money for scholarships for Grady County.”
One of the recipients of the scholarship was Annabel Whitehead, who lived in Cairo since she was 10 and graduated from Cairo High School in Grady County. She is majoring in Social Work with plans of becoming a therapist. Whitehead spoke at the Murder Mystery Dinner about how her educational journey would have been financially challenging without the Grady County Scholarship.
Annabel Whitehead, a 2023 Grady County Scholarship recipient
“Receiving this scholarship has allowed me to focus on my education without worrying as much about the financial impact I may face after graduation,” she said. “I am proud to have found a way to obtain my degree locally so that I can live near my family and loved ones and continue working while I earn my education.”
In addition to the fundraising through sponsorships, there was also a silent auction during the cocktail hour giving the guests a chance to bid on great items donated by businesses and individuals from Grady County and beyond.
The Murder Mystery Dinner also featured a play called “An Old Grudge: A Geriatric Murder Mystery” written by Jeff Lovett. The play was about a group of residents from a retirement village enjoying dinner together. One of the residents who uses a wheelchair and an oxygen tank suddenly passed out and fell over with his head on the table. Once his friends finally realized he had died they all began the quest to solve the murder mystery.
Members of the Syrup City Players presenting “The Old Grudge”
“Events like this wouldn’t be possible without our outstanding committee made up of both TU alumni and supportive community partners, Chelsie Cosbie, event chair, said.
The planning committee includes Cosby, Taylor Gilliard, Annette Higdon, Jennifer Jarvis, Jeremy Jones, Brande Strickland and Katie Williams.
Thomas University would like to express its thanks to the planning committee and Collins Place Venue for hosting the event.
