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Start of fundraiser for late police officer collects almost $10K

TRYON—A scholarship program for the late Trevor Arrowood began with a fundraiser last Friday night and raised $9,600. 

Tryon Downtown Development Association’s 4th Friday for July was in honor of Polk County’s First Responders and a way to kick off Trevor’s Gift. 

Friday night included a corn hole tournament at the Tryon Depot, a live band at the plaza, drinks and prizes to kick off the scholarship. 

Arrowood was 25 years old when he died of cancer on Jan. 5, 2021 after battling it for years while working as a police officer. His family has set up a scholarship to honor him that will benefit students who want to study criminal justice at Western Carolina University, where Arrowood graduated. 

Harmon Field employees made special corn hole boards for Arrowood’s scholarship and for first responders. 

Arrowood followed in his father’s, Tryon Police Chief Jeff Arrowood’s footsteps and worked for the Rock Hill Police Department after graduating college. Arrowood was the son of Jeff and Kerry Arrowood and graduated from Polk County High School. 

Jeff Arrowood said his dream is to one day have the fund provide a full scholarship for 4 law enforcement students. He said there are not that many young people going into law enforcement and this would be a good way to honor Trevor because he loved his work and Western Carolina. 

Donors who contributed to last Friday’s event for Trevor’s Gift included the Town of Tryon (Paige Henderson and Zach Ollis); Harmon Field (Tim Daniels, Travis Aldred, Dennis Nagle, Kim Luedi); Fulton Hampton; Parsec; Bonnie Davis; Buck’s Pizza; The Bottle; All Good Things Bakery; Benny’s Bread; Dottie Wilson; Karma Salon; Tracey Waters; Wild Petunia Gift Shop; The Tryon Theatre; Tryon International Equestrian Center; The Links of Tryon; Tryon Country Club; Christa Hampton; Cherie McEntire; Leigh Ann Edwards; Mel & Lo’s; Hubert and Ann Metcalf; A Taste of Olives and Grapes; Melinda and Robert Champion; Peacemaker Design; Alice and Steve Kirk; Denise and Chuck Britton; Brett McFarland; Emma Phipps; Clara Rogers; Lahoya and Danny Ivey; Dr. Lassiter’s office/Cheryl Brock; Leslie Bush; Anne Day; Makenzie and Will Ballard; Joyce and Hub Arledge; Shea and Chris White family; Tonya and Taylor Ballard; Kerry and Jeff Arrowood; Wendi and Dale Owens family; Kristin and Jeff Harmon family; Laura Weiker, Re/Max; Jennifer and Brian Jones family; Autoworx; Bodega Noir-Preston Kinsey; Garrett Wainwright and Sidestreet Pizza. 

Future fundraisers are being planned, such as a golf tournament next spring and a fishing tournament for the scholarship. 

People can find more information by searching Trevor’s Gift on social media.