2026 Legacy NAFC Royal Court

A message from Pam Grieb (FC '84):

I've lived within 15 minutes of where I grew up for almost my whole life, and I wouldn't trade that for anything. This community has a way of becoming family. My Latin teacher at NAHS, Alice Ranck, never had kids of her own, but she treated every one of us like we were hers. My girl tribe includes my best friend from elementary school, along with mothers whose children attended Grant Line with my son Cameron (NAHS ’13), beginning in kindergarten. Years later, when Cameron played football, a group of parents created the 12th Man Club to support the team, and we're still close and still showing up for each other. That's just how it works around here. People take care of each other like family, whether you're related or not.

I've carried that same sense of community and family into my career. I started at Samtec in 1987 in the Marketing Department. It was such a fabulous company to grow up in. Sam Shine built the company on the idea that you take care of your people, and you give back to the community that supports you. That really helped shape who I am today.

My connection to the NAFC Education Foundation comes through our Samtec Cares Grant Program. I remember reviewing a grant application from Blessings in a Backpack and being surprised to learn just how great the need is right here in our own community. About 30% of kids in our district qualify for free or reduced lunch. That number stuck with me. Hungry kids can't focus, which makes it that much harder for them to learn.

I especially love that the Foundation also supports Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. My husband Larry and I are avid readers. I've always thought of a good book as a cheap ticket to somewhere else. I travel every chance I get, for the same reason. My 18-month-old granddaughter, Leighton, loves being read to and looks forward to her new book every month.

I'm raising funds for the Education Foundation through the Royal Court because I've spent my career seeing what happens when a community comes together to support one another. I want to help the Foundation do more of just that. Any support you can offer, big or small, means so much to the students it will reach.