The club’s WGA partnered with the Rio Verde 9ers golf league to host an event on March 7 that generated $44,000 for The Sojourner Center, which provides a safe haven from domestic violence for women and their children. The charity program included a golf outing, luncheon, online auction, raffle and live auction. The funds raised at the event will be used to renovate the children’s playground adjacent to the child development center.
Rio Verde (Ariz.) Country Club’s Women’s Golf Association (WGA), in partnership with the Rio Verde 9ers golf league, raised $44,000 for The Sojourner Center through its fifth annual WGA Charity Event. The Sojourner Center, a Phoenix-based safe haven, helps nearly 10,000 individuals in the community each year and provides shelter to an average of 1,000 individuals annually. Of that number, 50 percent are children and 48 percent of those children are under the age of 5.
The WGA’s Annual Charity Event included a golf outing and luncheon held on March 7, as well as an online auction, raffle and live auction on that same day. Money was raised through golf entry fees, an online auction, raffle tickets, live auction items, cash donations, golf hole sponsorships and on-course contests. The golf and luncheon event included 124 women playing on Rio Verde Country Club’s two 18-hole golf courses as well as another 20 women who came to the luncheon but did not golf. In addition to the funds raised, the generous members of the community and golf club donated enough personal hygiene products to fill the back of two SUVs.
According to the Sojourner Center, funds will be used to renovate the children’s playground adjacent to the child development center.
“The Sojourner Center is near and dear to the hearts of Rio Verde golf members and residents,” said Susan Allbright, co-chair of the 2023 event. “Over the past five years we have raised nearly $152,000 for Sojourner Center. It is our goal to raise needed funds and create awareness of the nonprofit’s vital role in our community. Today, our efforts encompass support from all Rio Verde women golf associations and community members – women helping women.”
The Sojourner Center was founded in 1977 in downtown Phoenix with a goal to provide a safe haven from domestic violence for women and their children in Arizona. Since its founding, Sojourner has transformed lives by providing shelter and support services to more than 60,000 adults and children affected by domestic violence. Services include emergency and transitional housing, children and youth services, a childhood development center and a pet companion shelter.
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