100 golfers raise $45,000 for
Nelson Children's Center

Oct. 20, 2006

DENTON, Texas -- A record 100 golfers, sponsors, families and businesses recently raised more than $45,000 for abused and neglected children at Nelson Children's Center in Denton during the Tomorrow's Child Golf Benefit at the Oakmont Golf Club.

Dallas Cowboy's legend and pro football Hall of Famer Rayfield Wright served as the golf benefit's honorary chair. Wright said his humble beginnings growing up in a poor Georgia neighborhood with his grandmother, mother and three siblings helped provide him with inspirational words for the Nelson Center's children and volunteers.

"These young people here today at the Nelson Center want to do what's right, and we need to reach out and help them," Wright said. "It doesn't take much to touch someone because you can make this place a better place and a better world."

Eight Nelson Center children attended the event and met the golfers and Wright, who volunteers at the center. To express their gratitude, the children presented a hand-crafted piece of art to Wright, bringing tears to the eyes of Wright and the other golfers, said Kristy McKinney, the volunteer services coordinator for the Nelson Children's Center.

The Nelson Center provides care and treatment to emotionally disturbed boys and girls, ages six to 15. The children's emotional and behavioral problems are the result of past abuse and neglect. Most children at the center arrived with no personal possessions and traumatic family memories. The center uses intensive therapeutic care in a safe environment to help heal these deep wounds. As a result, the Nelson Center has earned a strong reputation for making a positive difference in the lives of the boys and girls it serves.

The Tomorrow's Child Golf Benefit helps make up the difference between what it costs to provide quality care to the children and what the center is reimbursed by the state for providing that care.

"These types of events really make a difference to the undeservingly neglected children who come to the Nelson Center with the hope of a new beginning," McKinney said. "The money raised will support our legacy of providing shelter, hope and healing."

McKinney expressed her gratitude to the sponsors who made the golf tournament a success. Platinum sponsors included Component Electronics and Corporation. Titanium sponsors were Bill Utter Ford, Blue Bell Creameries, Jason and Allison Mull, Mike Popejoy and Family, and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans - Dallas-Tarrant Chapter #30133, East Dallas Chapter #30116, North Central TX Chapter #30138 and Trinity River Chapter #30151. Silver sponsors were Debt Relief of America, Inc., Garland Kitchen Solutions, Robertson Inc., Ronnie Mac's Auto Sales and University Behavioral Health of Denton. Bronze sponsors included, AblazeRevolution.com, Dr. Peter Kahle, CrosswaysCounseling.com, Glen Oaks Hospital, Greater Denton/Wise County Association of Realtors, G. Forrest Green Jr., Lewisville Morning Rotary, Ronnie Mac's Too Auto Sales and Dr. Kurt and Laurie Senske.

Nelson Children's Center is an affiliated ministry of Lutheran Social Services, the social service arm of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LSS affiliated ministries serve more than 35,000 children, elderly and poor in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender or age. Its ministries include children's centers, therapeutic foster care, adoption, disaster response, emergency assistance, senior health care, retirement communities and adult day care.

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