Pearl’s 3rd Annual Fore the Children Golf Classic tees up Monday
AUBURN, Ala. (auburntigers.com) – Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl and his wife, Brandy, have partnered again with Children’s Harbor for the third annual Fore the Children Golf Classic presented by Russell Lands and Alabama Power, with all proceeds benefitting Children’s Harbor and its partners.
“My wife Brandy and I are very excited about continuing the partnership we have had with Children’s Harbor the previous two years,” Pearl said. “Our staff and families are trying to make a difference in the lives of children with serious illnesses and their families.
“Four thousand families get served every year, and partnering with Children’s Harbor has been extremely rewarding. We have been fortunate to receive so much support from friends and the Auburn Family.”
The golf tournament will be held on Monday, May 2, at the Willow Point Golf and Country Club in Alexander City. There will also be a dinner and auction on Sunday, May 1 in Auburn.
Children’s Harbor’s mission is to help children with serious illnesses and their families. This is done at both the Lake Martin campus and the Birmingham Family Center. The 66-acre lake campus provides no cost camping facilities to over 23 different non-profit organizations. The Family Center at the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children offers seriously ill children and their families free counseling for everyone involved, education services and tutoring, scheduled activities, an exercise room, a library, salon, laundry facilities and much more.
The previous two years of this highly-successful inaugural event has raised raised over $500,000 for Children’s Harbor.
“I am very impressed with Coach Pearl’s commitment to helping the families we serve,” Myrle Grate, CEO for Children’s Harbor said. “He uses his celebrity clout to raise awareness and support for our ministry. Children’s Harbor is grateful for his generous support. Last year’s tournament was extremely successful, and we look forward to another great year.”
Over 4,000 campers with illnesses including cancer, spina bifida, autism and transplants will attend camp at Children’s Harbor’s lake campus free of charge each year.
There is also a family center at the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children in Birmingham. Directly connected to the state-of-the-art hospital, the Children’s Harbor Family Center focuses on serving children and their families through activities and recreation, counseling, education, respite and other supportive services during and after hospitalization. All services are free and provided by a professional team.
When a family receives a life altering diagnosis their entire world is changed. For a parent, camp provides a place to slow down from doctor’s appointments; a time to receive training from experts and connect with other families experiencing the same difficulties that they face.
For children, camp is a place where they no longer stand out because of their illness. They are not stared at because of their disfiguring burns, or everyone has to take shots with their meals. These campers are surrounded by others who are just like them; kids who are facing the same prognosis, who have to take the same medications, and who may have their same limitations. These campers are no longer worried about their illness, their prognosis and how it makes them stand out; these campers come to Children’s Harbor to be children again.
“Bruce and Brandy Pearl have been very active in the community since they arrived at Auburn and their event demonstrates just how passionate they are about Children’s Harbor,” said Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs. “This event has been very successful and will continue to be a very worthwhile event to assist children with serious illness and their families. We’re very grateful for the Pearl family and their giving nature.”
