blivingston@themeridianstar.com



Not only does the Community Bank Golf Classic help cultivate tomorrow's PGA Tour professionals but it also injects much-needed funding into local United Way agencies to help those in need today.

This year the tournament will again be held at Northwood Country Club. Organizers and beneficiaries of the money raised from sponsorships hope people don't lose sight of just how much good the event will bring to those less fortunate. For the past three years, tens of thousands of dollars have helped local non-profit agencies such as L.O.V.E.'s Kitchen to provide a much needed service to the community.

"This tournament means a great deal to us," said Thad Quarles, executive director of the United Way. "It is becoming quite a tradition and we have the sponsors such as Community Bank and the Adams Golf Pro Tour Series to thank for that. Every year more and more sponsors join in this event making it bigger and better than the year before."

As many as 100 professional players from the Adams Golf Pro Tour Series are expected to tee off in the tournament that begins Oct. 8. Money raised by the event will go to the United Way and be distributed among its many partners.

"It's just a wonderful event," said Al Brown, who represents L.O.V.E.'s Kitchen — one of the United Way's partner agencies. "It helps us keep doing our mission. It also helps the community celebrate the community."

Community Bank will again be the lead sponsor for the fourth annual professional golf event. The Adams Golf Pro Tour Series, a subsidiary of K&G; Sports LLC., partners with local non-profits to conduct professional golf tournaments in the mid-south region of the U.S. In addition to raising thousands of dollars each year for charity, these events provide an avenue for professional golfers to hone their skills while preparing for a life on the PGA Tour.

Community Bank President Jeff McCoy, stated, "The Community Bank Golf Classic has a tremendous economic and philanthropic impact on this area. We expanded the benefits of the tournament last year so that a portion of the proceeds reach all United Way agencies. What this does is provide funds to a much larger group of non-profit organizations."

According to Lynn Combest of Leading Edges Advertising, the first year of the golf tournament was right after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and $5,000 was donated to L.O.V.E.’s Kitchen that year. In 2006, $20,000 was raised on behalf of L.O.V.E.’s Kitchen. Last year, which was the first year where all United Way agencies were included $10,000 was donated to United Way and they received a matching grant for $10,000 which gave them a total of $20,000. An additional donation of $23,0000 was also made to L.O.V.E.’s Kitchen through the golf tournament and a Steve Forbert Benefit Concert.

Quarles said the event comes at a great time for the United Way partners with major holiday seasons just around the corner.

"Receiving funding throughout the year is always great but it is really appreciated this time of year when we really start gearing up for what is ahead of us," he said. "We at the United Way really can't express our gratitude to the sponsors of this tournament and what it means to not only us but to the large number of less fortunate people whom it will ultimately benefit."







United Way Partners

United Way of East Mississippi

( 601/693-2732)

Addresses community issues through collaboration while developing resources for member health and human agencies.



American Red Cross Key Chapter

(601/485-5151)

Provides relief to families of major and local disasters, utility assistance; aid to military and health and safety Courses.



Boy Scouts

(601/693-6757)

Serves the community by preparing our youth to make ethical choices over their lifetime and achieve their full potential.



Boys & Girls Club

(601/482-2544)

Provides structured after school and summer programs for boys and girls ages 5-18.



Care Lodge

(601/482-8719)

Provides 24-hour crisis line and shelter for domestic violence victims and their children. Violence-free living is our goal.



Community of Hope Tutoring Program

(601/693-3952)

Provides learning opportunities for area children by providing quality tutoring for at-risk elementary children using high school students as tutors.



Foster Grandparents Program

(601/482-5920)

Provides community opportunities for seniors and promotes emotional well being of abused, neglected and mentally challenged youth while fostering the unique talents of senior citizens.



Friendship Center

(601/485-2728)

Provides psychological services, case management and meals to mentally ill, homeless mentally ill, and substance abusers.



Girl Scouts

(601/693-2903)

Inspires girls with the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism, and service that they may become happy and resourceful citizens.



Habitat for Humanity

(601/485-4992)

Improving the lives of local families by building simple adequate houses, education and nurturing, enabling these families to create homes.



Hope Village for Children

(601/553-8660)

Licensed group foster home for abandoned, neglected and abused children age 8 to 18 years old.



L.O.V.E.’s Kitchen (Lauderdale Outreach Volunteer Effort)

(601/693-1409)

Simply stated, the purpose of LOVE’s Kitchen is to feed the hungry or Lauderdale County and Meridian, Mississippi.



Meals on Wheels Program

(601/482-9891)

Ensures at least one hot meal, five days per week for home bound elderly/handicapped residents in the Meridian area.



RSVP

(601/482-0512)

Provides opportunities for senior citizens. Seniors perform volunteer tasks with the purpose of meeting basic human needs as directed by the participating agency assignment.



Salvation Army

(601/483-6156)

Provide food, clothing, lodging, and other needs as emergency situations arise, including disasters. Serving Lauderdale, Kemper, Neshoba, and Newton Counties.



South Harbor Shelter

(601/483-0776)

Addresses the needs of homeless and potentially homeless persons by aiding in securing and maintaining transitional to permanent housing.



Wesley House Community Center

(601/485-4736)

Helps people help themselves through the multi-level education, child advocacy, sexual assault, homicide survivors, relief, and community centers.