Held July 3-4 at Blacksburg (Va.) Country Club, the Blacksburg Gives Back golf event raised $84,000 for the United in Caring Fund. Established by the United Way, United in Caring is the only fund providing assistance for families of those killed or injured in the April 16 Virginia Tech shootings and funds for the local community to recover from the tragedy.
The local community rallied around the event. Twenty-eight companies donated hole sponsorships and four other local entities, Montgomery Regional Hospital (where most victims were treated), LeClair Ryan law firm, Aspen Motion Technologies, and First National Bank collectively donated $14,000. Others stepped up and donated items for the silent auction.
Blacksburg CC staff solicited vendors and other golf related suppliers for auction item donations. E-Z-GO was the first to jump in and offered a 2007, four-passenger Freedom golf car valued at approximately $6,000. The PGA of America offered weeklong passes to the 2008 PGA Championship and 2008 Ryder Cup. Dr. Bobby Duval, a staff member of the Titleist Performance Institute, donated two trips to the TPI, valued at more than $7,500 each. Club managers from across the state of Virginia were incredibly generous as well. Many donated rounds of golf for a foursome at their clubs.
During the July 3 auction, there were 16 live auction items and scores of silent auction items. Former Virginia Tech and current NFL players Darryl Tapp and James Anderson and former Major League baseball players Mike Williams and Brad Clontz signed autographs, with Tapp and Anderson even agreeing to be “auctioned off” to play with a foursome the following day. The auction alone raised more than $38,000.
The country club’s members and community residents came out in force for the July 4 tournament, with 26 teams contributing $800 each to play. Brian Nash, a member of the Cobra National Long Drive Team, donated his time and dazzled members with 400-yard drives and incredible trick shots. He stayed on the golf course all day and helped raise additional funds by charging teams to use his drive on one hole.
Each player received a special golf towel with a maroon, orange and black ribbon on it and the inscription “We will prevail.” In a ceremony held prior to golf, the city’s “first responders,” including four police agencies, four fire and rescue agencies, and two mental health agencies, were honored for their efforts in helping people immediately cope with the tragedy.
In addition, 32 three-foot orange and maroon balloons were released during a moment of silence to remember the victims. The huge balloons rose to the sky and were visible for more than 10 minutes, providing a memorable tribute to those who died.
After golf, the club sponsored a huge outdoor barbecue. Food purveyors such as Institution Food House, Performance Food Group, and Pepsi made huge product contributions to help BCC reduce its expenses. At the pool, there was music and games. Children had the chance to tie-dye t-shirts in Hokie colors with all proceeds going to the United in Caring Fund.
“In late April, our goal was to make this a community recovery event,” said Blacksburg Country Club general manager Tom Deutsch. “In just eight short weeks, the community and beyond responded with incredible generosity.”
