Fore(!) The Children- Calling All Golfers!

Child advocacy center to hold golf fundraiser, invites community to support abuse prevention efforts

BIG RAPIDS, Mich.– Open Arms Child Advocacy Center is inviting golfers to tee up for a good cause.
​
The nonprofit, which serves families and children in Mecosta, Osceola, Lake and Newaygo counties, is holding a golf fundraiser with a twist: The virtual fundraiser is being held over the course of 30 days and three area golf courses. As part of the fundraiser, 4-member teams of golfers can tee up anytime between Sept. 1 to Oct. 2 at a golf course of their choice. Participating golf courses are:

• Katke Golf Course, 1003 Perry Ave., Big Rapids, MI 49307. Phone: (231) 591-3765. Email: katkegolfcourse@ferris.edu. 
• Marquette Trails Golf Course, 6409 W. 76th St., Baldwin, MI 49304. Phone: (231) 898-2450. Email: golf@carrinter.net.
• Spring Valley Golf Course, 18396 US 10, Hersey, MI 49639 (4 miles east of Reed City, off Exit 153). Phone: (231) 832-5041. Email: springvalleygolf@gmail.com.

Team registration is $200. Green fees, which include 18 holes and a cart, are $35. Sponsorships are still available, at $5,000 for a title sponsor, $2,500 for a major sponsor, $1,500 for a birdie sponsor, and $100 for a hole sponsor.

In addition to golfing at a time and course that’s convenient, teams can also post their scores on a live leaderboard. Interested golfers can sign up by going to www.golfstatus.com and clicking on “Find an event.” A new window listing all golf events will appear, and in the search bar, type in “Open Arms Child Advocacy Center.” From the OACAC events page, golfers can sign up, be a sponsor, check the leaderboard and donate to OACAC. Golfers can call the golf course of their choice to schedule their teams’ tee times.

Open Arms Child Advocacy Center is a community based and child friendly facility designated to coordinate child forensic interviews and services to victims of child sexual abuse in Mecosta, Osceola, Newaygo and Lake counties. Through its work, OACAC aims to minimize further trauma to child victims and their non-offending family members by supporting successful child abuse investigations, promoting healing, and empowering families through education.

“Open Arms Child Advocacy Center is excited to host our golf fundraiser and we invite folks in our community to golf for a good cause, at a time and location that works for them,” said Wendy Samuels, OACAC board chair. “Open Arms is grateful to businesses, individuals and our partners in law enforcement, health care and other organizations who have helped us support children and hold those who commit abuses accountable for their crimes. Our golf fundraiser in September and October is a great way to ensure Open Arms can continue to do the work we do, with the resources we need to serve our community and protect children.”

​