Coach George Felton, NBA scout, Bethlehem University Foundation (BUFUSA) board member, and beloved mentor to many of Bethlehem’s students, is visiting Bethlehem University this week.
Coach Felton’s visit comes around the first anniversary of the George Felton Court’s inauguration. We reflect on his words from that occasion: “From the first time I stepped onto this campus, I was inspired by the determination of the students. This court is for them, a place to dream, to compete, and to carry forward the values of this remarkable University.”
Coach George thoroughly enjoyed his time with students, on and off the court. He had opportunities to teach and eat with the students. But he appreciated most the opportunity to listen to their needs and concerns, offering the “ministry of presence.”
“The students have been wonderful, campus looks great,” George said, “but most important, they need help.”
With the ongoing wars and economic strife, students and their families often feel forgotten in their struggle to survive. George reported, “Tourism is shut down, hotels are closed, tour guides have lost their only source of income. Many students are finding it very difficult to pay for their tuition. Job opportunities are scarce and limited.” Fear, bred from an uncertain political, social, and economic future, is an unwanted daily companion. While students’ families worry that the land they own could be seized, they still see education as the path forward for themselves and their community.
The students and their families expressed gratitude for the generosity of so many donors who partner with BUFUSA on their behalf, calling BUFUSA “an essential lifeline.”
George’s message to fellow donors is to continue to support BUFUSA initiatives that provide for the educational needs of students: from tuition to classroom technology, teacher salaries, and special programs for disabled students.