CASA to hold golf tournament at Harbor Club

Golfers are wanted to play in “Swing a Club for CASA,” a charity golf tournament sponsored by Ocmulgee Court Appointed Special Advocates, Inc. (CASA) and Georgia College & State University’s Friends of CASA.

“Swing a Club for CASA” will take place April 21, 2003, at Harbor Club Golf Course at Lake Oconee in Greensboro.

All funds raised by the tournament benefit Ocmulgee CASA, which recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers to communicate the best interest of abused and neglected children in the court system.

“We are a volunteer organization,” Lori Muggridge, executive director for Ocmulgee CASA, said. “Our whole mission is to recruit, train and supervise volunteers to speak up for abused children in court.”

Ocmulgee CASA covers an seven-county judicial district, which includes Baldwin, Greene, Hancock, Jones, Morgan, Putnam and Wilkinson counties. Ocmulgee CASA is also working towards providing their services in Jasper County.

With 950 programs across the country, CASA promotes and supports quality volunteer representation for children, providing each child with a safe, permanent and nurturing home. The non-profit organization, CASA, works with children to provide their wishes to the court and to provide an independent recommendation of the best course of action for the child.

“When children are moved from their homes because of abuse or neglect, the juvenile court judge makes extremely important decisions about the child’s life,” Muggridge said. “CASA is the only group involved in proceedings that advocates solely for the child. CASA gives the judge more information to make a better decision, and until CASA, that didn’t happen.”

Friends of CASA was created by members of the Mass Communication program’s public relations campaigns class at GC&SU. The class is planning, promoting and implementing the golf tournament as its campaign project this semester.

“Swing a Club for CASA” will be an 18-hole, four man scramble with prizes awarded for holes-in-one, low net, low gross and ladies flight teams.

“We’re going to be giving away a vehicle donated by Butler Ford for a hole-in-one,” Shellie Cook, event manager for the tournament, said. “There will be a raffle, including an autographed Masters flag signed by Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and six other golfers. We’re also trying to entice many government officials and celebrities to attend.”

For more information or to register to play in the tournament, contact Muggridge at 478-452-9170 or e-mail her at gcsufriendsofcasa@yahoo.com.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 21 2003. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry