Golf tournament raises record amount
for center for abused, neglected children
Oct. 9, 2007

Denton, Texas - More than $55,000 was raised at the 11th annual "Tomorrow's Child" Golf Tournament to benefit the Nelson Children's Center recently. The event, held at the Oakmont Country Club in Corinth, Texas, was attended by 100 golfers, mainly from the Metroplex area.

The golfers each raised at least $250 to take part in the fund-raiser for the Nelson Children's Center, a residential treatment facility for severly emotionally disturbed boys and girls, ages 6 to 15 located in Denton. Three golfers, Tony Gilmore, Peter Kahle and Steve Wiechman, raised a combined total of more than $10,000!

Tournament sponsors covered all costs of the event and provided many of the silent auction items which raised approximately $1,600.

"I feel so blessed that there are people in the community who care so much about me and all the kids at the Nelson Center," said Chris, one of the eight residents of the center who attended the tournament. The children presented a piece of artwork to the tournament's honorary chair, NFL Hall of Famer and former Dallas Cowboy, Rayfield Wright. (see photo at left) Wright was the keynote speaker at the event.

The Nelson Center, an affiliated ministry of Lutheran Social Services, provides therapeutic residential treatment to about 120 children each year. The center offers a secure setting, individual and group therapy, family counseling, structure activities and spiritual care.

The center also provides substance abuse education, music therapy, self-esteem building and anger management. On-site Trinity Charter School provides individualized educational opportunities to the children, who often enter the center at two to three grade levels behind.