Giving Tuesday

This time of year gives us opportunity to reflect on the blessings we enjoy. It also allows us to reach out and help those less fortunate. This holiday season I will have the opportunity to participate in at least four Toys for Tots campaigns that chapters around Florida are conducting. Not only are there toys, but there are donations to a variety of other worthwhile causes.

Tuesday, Dec.3^, is Giving Tuesday, a national day of giving to kick off the giving season added to the calendar on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. GCSAA is observing the day by spotlighting the amazing charitable contributions and deeds of our chapters and members. In the process of collecting information that we plan to share via social media, I have been blown away by the magnitude and frequency that chapters and individuals give on a regular basis.

I know that when speaking with our elected officials while advocating on behalf of the golf industry, I have used the number of $325 million in annual contributions in the state. The number is a big number but it is usually just that, a big number. It is not until you hear the stories behind the number that you genuinely appreciate the value of the contributions. Certainly, I am not just speaking in monetary terms.

In one such instance, it was not money at all rather the donation of time. GCSAA Class A member Barry Greenwalt, CGCS, and member of the Seven Rivers GCSAA and Florida GCSA is awaiting his third liver transplant. He has been battling his situation courageously, but his fight leaves him with little energy. On a Saturday not so long ago, a group of individuals from the chapter took time out of their schedules to come to Barry’s house and catch up on the chores and took care of other items that needed attention. The group did not have to do this but they had a colleague in need and did it because they wanted to help out a friend. My words can’t do this act justice, but I know the type of people in our industry, and I am confident these types of acts go unmentioned all the time across the country. I wanted to take this opportunity to say awesome job to our members, and it is a pleasure to work with all of you on a regular basis.

When it does come to financial contributions the chapters around Florida are not stingy with their money. Food bank donations from the Suncoast and Calusa chapters are regular operational certainties especially during the holidays when there are many in Southwest Florida in need. The Suncoast Chapter donated more than $800 to the All Faith Food House to assist those in the Sarasota area. The Suncoast Chapter has not limited themselves to just the local food house, they have more than $5,000 in donations to other great causes such as The Ronald McDonald House, Highland County Hospice House, and to a member whose spouse is dealing with cancer. Again, it is rewarding to be able to highlight these efforts that may otherwise go unmentioned.

Southeast Florida also knows how to extend good will to those in need. At a recent Palm Beach chapter event, the chapter presented The First Tee of The Palm Beaches with a check for $10,000. The check will be used to help provide proper storage for equipment and free up space for the children who participate in the program. The wonderful work of the first tee program is well documented but there are many behind the scenes groups that help them. In this case, the Palm Beach chapter is one of the behind the scenes supporters. 

The Palm Beach chapter has also been supportive of their neighboring chapter to the South. The South Florida chapter has just recently completed their 27^th Annual Missing and Exploited Children’s Fundraising event. The Palm Beach chapter donated $1,500 to this year’s cause. Over the lifetime that the South Florida chapter has hosted the event they have raised nearly $500,000 to support this worthwhile endeavor. These funds come from the support of others in the golf industry. Vendors and sponsorships and fellow superintendents come together to make this event the success that it is.

I did not intentionally leave anyone’s efforts out, but I could write into the middle of next year if I continued with this blog. Instead I will utilize Twitter with the hash tag #GivingTuesday to highlight a number of noteworthy contributions consistently made around the state. I hope you all enjoy the Holiday Season, and I offer my most sincere “Thank You” for the blessing of working with you in my role as your GCSAA representative!!