Cougar alums receive the Youth Philanthropist Award.
Ben Greer, one of the tournament founders, addresses the audience.
The tournament was created in honor of Deb Angstadt, a Collegiate parent.
Collegiate School alums who founded the Deb Angstadt Wiffle Ball Tournament pose with Head of School Steve Hickman.

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Student-Developed Fundraiser Earns Award

11/17/2016

A fundraiser created by a group of Collegiate School students received a youth philanthropy award today, and the recent alums behind the endeavor attended to accept the honor.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals Central Virginia Chapter awarded its Youth Philanthropist of the Year Award to David Angstadt, Ben Greer, Dalton Ruh, Gordon Granger and EJ Patterson — all 2016 graduates.

The friends and classmates created the Deb Angstadt Wiffle Ball Tournament in 2013 to honor David’s mother, Deb Angstadt, who was a friend and inspiration to many Collegiate parents and students before she succumbed to cancer in 2014.

“The thing that astonished me was how quickly and passionately all of my friends reacted when my Mom first got sick, and being able to grow the tournament to where it is today really just boggles my mind still,” said David, who is now a freshman at the College of William and Mary.

Since its inception, the Deb Angstadt Wiffle Ball Tournament, has raised $21,175 for the organization Stand Up to Cancer. The five Cougar alums accepted the award along with Rob Wedge, a Collegiate Upper School economics teacher, who served as the group’s faculty advisor.

AFP Central Virginia handed out the award at its 20th anniversary celebration at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The Youth Philanthropist of the Year category recognizes an individual or group of young people who serve as leaders for a specific cause, role models for other youth, and who creatively design and implement a fundraising program.

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