In 1987, a few folks in Boone County got together to see if they could raise some money to help one of their local students attend West Virginia University. The story goes that 10 people put in $100 each and they gave away one $1,000 scholarship. The money also helped buy a trumpet so the student could join the WVU marching band.

That was the origin of what has become one of the WVU Alumni Association’s most unique and successful fundraisers — the annual Boone County Alumni and Friends Pig Roast and Mountaineer Music Frolic. The WVU Alumni Association describes the pig roast as one of its longest running signature chapter events.

The 37th event was held two Saturdays ago at the Water Ways Outdoor Amphitheater in Julian. The big crowd included alumni and friends of the university, past scholarship recipients and folks who just wanted to take in the festivities. They raised somewhere between $40,000 and $50,000.

Consider these numbers from the Boone County Alumni and Friends chapter:

Since the first event, the organization has raised more than $1 million, mostly from the annual pig roast, and that money has funded about 500 student scholarships. The association is funding more than $40,000 in scholarships for 25 students for the coming school year. That makes the Boone County alumni group the top provider of scholarships among all WVU Alumni chapters.

In a story about the Boone County Alumni and Friends chapter by WVU Today, past president Denise Workman said, “You want kids with potential to have the opportunity to get that education and, if they choose to come home, that’s great, or if they choose something else — they’ve seen a new horizon. We are seeing the difference it’s making for so many students.”

With the many challenges in today’s world, I often hear people wonder how they can make a difference. Some of the problems are just so overwhelming. In addition, we are bombarded with national news coverage that often focuses on conflict and issues that seem intractable.

It is easy to get discouraged and lose sight of what’s possible. That is why what Boone County Alumni and Friends association does is so important. Writer and teacher Margaret J. Wheatley said, “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”

Nearly four decades ago, Boone County decided it was important to help local students who wanted to attend West Virginia University. Their pig roast last weekend was not only a fundraiser for those scholarships, but it was also illustrative of what a community can accomplish when it pulls together.

Hoppy Kercheval is a MetroNews anchor and the longtime host of “Talkline.” Contact him at hoppy.kercheval@wvradio.com.