The University of North Carolina-Pembroke will be throwing a beach party on Aug. 7.

The Support Our Students (S.O.S.) Beach Party has a goal of funding between 50 to 100 student scholarships. The Holiday Band will provide Carolina beach music that will be served up with classic beach cuisine and beverages. There will be contests, raffles, dance lessons and games.

“Without an infusion of funding, our talented scholarship students — many of whom receive need-based grants — will not get the financial help they count on during the 2009-10 school year,” said Sandy Waterkotte, UNCP’s chief fundraiser.

“The global economic crisis has touched virtually every institution’s endowment, including ours,” Waterkotte said. “We could sit around and feel bad about this or throw a party.”

Tickets will go for a tax-deductible donation of $150 per person, $300 a couple and $1,000 for a table of eight. Major sponsorships are $3,000.

Sponsorships from local businesses have ensured that every penny of the proceeds will go directly to student support. Sponsors include: The Commons at Pembroke Apartments, Debbie’s Destinations, Scotland Memorial Hospital, First Bank, R.A. Jeffreys Distributing, Lumberton Radiological Associates, Metcon Construction, Pate Supply, and Paul and Pat Willoughby.

“Now, more than ever, I believe folks understand that investing in education is the key to helping improve and strengthen our communities,” said Lumbee Bank CEO/President and UNCP alumnus Larry Chavis.

Fellow banker Bruce Mullis of BB&T observed that “in a tighter economy, people are looking for ways to have a good time – especially if they can accomplish something meaningful at the same time.”

“People care about the financial challenges facing today’s students, and if they understand that all proceeds will support these students, they’ll spend a little more for an evening out,” said Attorney Grady Hunt of Locklear, Jacobs, Hunt and Brooks.

Other members of the committee include Kent Chavis of Lumbee Bank, Aaron Thomas of Metcon Construction, Kellie Blue, finance director of Robeson County, Mickey Meekins of Lloyd Meekins Realty and Auction, Robin Jones, James Granger of Linsco Private Ledger, Mickey Gregory of the Lumberton Visitors Bureau, Carolyn Floyd-Robinson of New Life Services and Phillip Stone of First South Bank.

UNCP Director of Collegiate Development Alisia Oxendine, who helped bring the group of volunteers together, has been “amazed and inspired” by the level of commitment the group has brought to the effort.

For ticket or other information, please call (910) 521-6252 or e-mail advancement@uncp.edu.