There’s an old saying, whose attribution has been lost to the ages, that you never truly die until the last time someone says your name. The thinking behind this saying is that each of us just wants to leave behind a legacy when we’re gone, something that will keep our name alive for years to come. Something that, effectively, lets us live on.
Not everyone in the Lowcountry knew Raleigh Peters’ name, but those who did cherished the impact he had on our community.
“Raleigh loved golf, and he loved the Lowcountry,” said Bob Risk, First Tee – The Lowcountry board member. “He had been sick for a while, and there just wasn’t anything we could do for him. So, we thought we should put something together for him while he’s alive, so he could see it before he passed.”
To keep Peters’ spirit alive, Risk partnered with Mark Piegza and reached out to his fellow board members about establishing the Raleigh Peters Scholarship. Part of the organization’s secondary education scholarship program, this scholarship would help young First Tee participants shoulder the economic burden of college, providing them with $5,000 a year for up to four years to pursue their degree.
Everyone at First Tee – The Lowcountry jumped at the opportunity. And the community responded.
“The response from the people who knew Mr. Peters was incredible. There were 50 to 60 donations and counting made within the first few weeks,” said Executive Director Pat Zuk. “When you talk to people who knew him, they’ll tell you he was just the best guy, and always went out of his way to make you feel like you were important. And that shows in the reaction to this scholarship.”
Not everyone in the Lowcountry knew Raleigh Peters’ name, but those who did cherished the impact he had on our community.
Originally hailing from Conway Springs, Kansas, Raleigh Peters built a highly successful career in finance with firms like Federated Investors, Capital Group, JP Morgan Chase, Blackstone, and New Mountain Capital. While he spent the majority of his time in New York, his constant trips to the Lowcountry introduced people here to his incredible energy.
“He would come down here as much as he could. He loved playing Secession Golf Club and he never missed a Heritage week,” Risk said. “Ultimately, he was always looking to see how he could extract himself from the world of New York and come down here full time.”
His illness robbed him of the chance, but not before Risk was able to share with him the news of the scholarship that would bear his name. “We were able to tell him about it before he passed,” said Risk. “His family was so moved that we were thinking of him.”
Students interested in the Raleigh Peters Scholarship can apply through the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry at cf-lowcountry.org.