TMRW Sports at Palm Beach State College
The Promise of Tomorrow
There are moments in life that last for much more than a moment, when time stands
still, and you know from that day forward nothing will be the same. For Palm Beach
State College, that day came on February 21, 2023, with the announcement of its most
significant milestone in recent memory.
PBSC President Ava L. Parker, J.D.; Tiger Woods; Mike McCarley, Founder and CEO, TMRW Sports; Rory McIlroy; Jay Monahan, PGA TOUR Commissioner breaking ground at Palm Beach Gardens Eissey Campus
Celebrating its 90th year of educating the community, Palm Beach State has entered into an extraordinary partnership with TMRW Sports (pronounced Tomorrow). Supported by a diverse investor group of athletes, celebrities and business leaders from the worlds of sports, media, modern technologies and finance, TMRW harnesses high-tech innovation to build progressive approaches for professional sports, entertainment and media.
In cooperation with the PGA TOUR, TMRW has selected Palm Beach State as the exclusive home for TGL, its new professional indoor golf league that fuses advanced technology with live action for primetime television audiences.
David Rutherford, VP Institutional Advancement and CEO, Foundation for PBSC; Mike McCarley, Founder and CEO, TMRW Sports; Jay Monahan, PGA TOUR Commissioner; Rory McIlroy; Tiger Woods; Governor Ron DeSantis; PBSC President Ava L. Parker, J.D.
The announcement came on a cool, cloudless morning at the College’s Palm Beach Gardens campus, punctuated by an electric atmosphere and the significance of the moment, palpable to nearly 200 invited guests. FOX Sports commentator and host Erin Andrews sat center stage with golf legends and TMRW cofounders Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, the first of a dozen professionals who have partnered with Mike McCarley, founder and CEO of TMRW Sports.
Woods equated the new format to sitting courtside for an NBA game while McIlroy added, “This is nothing like golf has ever offered. In traditional tournaments, it’s difficult for fans to get near the golfers, but here we’ll be up close and personal.”
Palm Beach State President Ava L. Parker, J.D., Woods, McIlroy, Governor Ron DeSantis, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan and McCarley took the league’s first divot, breaking ground at the site of TMRW’s future and first-ever facility. Scheduled for early 2024, the inaugural match showcases two teams of PGA TOUR players competing inside a seven-story, custom-built, state-of-the-art venue that expands the infrastructure of the Palm Beach Gardens campus.
TMRW’s partnership complements the progressive vision of President Parker, one that ensures economic mobility for individuals and families and substantial growth of both College and community. In her eighth year at the helm, she is inspired by the magnitude of what lies ahead. “This gift is transformational, an absolute game-changer for the College. Our partnership with TMRW delivers unprecedented exposure and positions Palm Beach State for national recognition as a leader for innovative technology in higher education.”
An initial $1 million gift from the TMRW Sports Fund has been given to the Foundation for Palm Beach State, enhancing the College’s business, marketing, sports management and technology curricula. The partnership puts into motion a myriad of educational components intended to benefit students through scholarships, academic program development, paid internships and keynote speakers, including professional sports figures and celebrities from a variety of media.
Mike McCarley, Founder and CEO, TMRW Sports; PBSC President Ava L. Parker, J.D.; David Rutherford, VP Institutional Advancement and CEO, Foundation for PBSC
Securing the agreement with McCarley, David Rutherford, CEO of the Foundation for Palm Beach State, captures the essence of the watershed moment for the College. “Abraham Lincoln told us that commitment is what transforms a promise into a reality. From the start, we have committed ourselves to this remarkable public-private venture, a tremendous collaboration that has come to fruition with a far-reaching impact on Palm Beach County.”
McCarley also emphasized the partnership’s potential. “This is a unique intersection of sports, technology and culture, opening pathways for students. We’re empowering future generations for careers in sports, entertainment and STEM-related fields.”
In fact, PBSC serves the community’s essential needs through cutting-edge initiatives, including STEM, cybersecurity, medical simulation, the Oristano Center for Innovation in Health Sciences and the Frank DiMino Center for Medical Innovation at Loxahatchee Groves, known as the College’s “medical technology campus.” Not a bad moniker to earn when your mission is to transform lives and strengthen the community.
While Palm Beach State’s first 90 years have brought development, structure and economic stability to Palm Beach County, the College’s next 90 are about building forward, a foundation for the future defined by equitable opportunities, technological advancements and education through innovation, made possible by the promise of tomorrow.
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