Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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“We wanted to hold the tournament in Thomasville so that we can help out the Thomasville course, as well as staying in Davidson County and supporting our community,” said Terri Nelson, executive director of Fairgrove Family Resource Center. “I’m really hoping that this move will increase the number of businesses that contribute as hole sponsors. It will give them a wonderful opportunity to advertise their business, as well as support a nonprofit organization that helps the unfortunate, disadvantaged people who live in this community. Advertisers will have great exposure because their signs will be on the holes of the golf course.”
Gregg’s Graphics is, once again, producing the signs and donating its services to the fundraising tournament.
Any business interested in being a hole sponsor — or golfer interested in participating — is encouraged to call Fairgrove at 472-7217.
The format of the tournament is captain’s choice. All teams will have four members and the entry cost to play in it is $60, or $240 per team. The tournament has a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Drinks and snacks will be served to the players and lunch will be served upon completion of play. Entry deadline for teams is April 4.
“Many of the golfers have commented that we have one of the most hospitable golf tournaments that they have ever attended,” Nelson said. “They usually try to play in it year after year. Most of the players believe in the goals of the resource center and what it does to help people. They also enjoy the hospitality and the fact that everybody seems to have a real good time.”
One of the golfers who believes in the goals and activities of Fairgrove Family Resource Center is Howard Hayes. Hayes, namesake of the tournament, is a former teacher and coach at East Davidson High School.
“Howard is just one of the most genuine, caring, energetic people you will ever meet,” Nelson said. “He is an active member of Fair Grove United Methodist Church, which has been a supporter of the resource center as long as I’ve been connected with it. Howard really believes in what we do and wants to help us out in any way he can. He’s a huge drawing card to this tournament because so many people who play in it have had him for a coach or know someone who has had him for a coach.”
If there are at least 18 teams, the winning team will receive $400 in cash, the second-place team will receive $200 and the third-place team will collect $100 in prize money. There will also be prizes for the closest tee-shot to the pin and the longest drive, as well as a a putting contest and many door prizes will be given away.
If April 5 turns out to be too rainy of a Saturday for golf, April 12 has been set up as a rain date.
While a lot of fun and camaraderie is involved in this tournament, the need for support of Fairgrove Family Resource Center is more crucial than ever, Nelson said.
“Fairgrove Family Resource Center is assisting approximately 700 people a month,” she said. “We are distributing over 12,000 pounds of food a month. We also have two backpack programs that feed 50 students at Brier Creek Elementary School and Thomasville Primary School each week of the school year.”
The center provides other aid to the needy besides food.
“Our emergency financial assistance program helps people with their mortgage or rent and utility payments,” Nelson said. “That program has increased 40 percent in just one year. The needs in our community are growing in astronomical rates, which makes it much harder for us to be able to assist everybody who qualifies and needs help. Therefore, we need to be able to raise the money to fund all the programs that we have with the resource center.”
Nelson said that she and her staff — including the volunteers — make sure those who ask for assistance indeed qualify for such aid.
“The people who come to the resource center are screened,” Nelson said. “We make sure the people are eligible for the services. We document things very carefully.”
Nelson sees problems in the local economy as the reason for the increase in people needing financial aid in this area.
“I really believe a lot of it is due to the trickle-down effect from all the TFI layoffs,” she said. “The people had unemployment for a specific period of time, but they no longer are allowed to draw that. They’ve had a very difficult time finding jobs that pay even close to the range that they earned with TFI..”
More recent layoffs at Thomasville Furniture Industries have made the situation even more critical, Nelson said.
“About 30 percent of the people we serve are senior citizens and disabled people, who often live on very restrictive incomes,” Nelson continued. “If there is any problem with their car or their home, it throws them off their budget. Sometimes they have to make a decision on whether they buy their medicine or their food.”
Nelson said that about 60 percent of the people who received aid from Fairgrove were either children, elderly or disabled.
“Another problem I’ve seen is that so many people are looking to lose their homes,” she said. “My background is in mortgage banking, and this has been a real hard thing to see up so close.”
Despite the sadness Nelson often feels for the people she is trying to help through Fairgrove Family Resource Center, she is glad that she is in the job she’s in.
“I feel like I’m doing the job God wants me to do,” Nelson said. “I feel like I’m where I’m suppose to be.”
Staff Writer Kevin Reid can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 230, or at reid@tvilletimes.com.