First course walk against domestic violence a success
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
CHARLOTTE -- Tammy Wright cradled her squirming 22-month-old granddaughter Kyndall safely in her arms.
If only she could have done the same for her daughter, Brittany Bridges, who was murdered by Kyndall's father eight months ago. He committed suicide on the same day, which also happened to be his 25th birthday.
As she has dealt with the unimaginable heartbreak of losing her daughter, Wright has become an advocate for raising awareness of domestic violence. That's why Tuesday's outpouring of support was so important to her.
More than 850 people turned out for the inaugural "Walk the Course Against Domestic Violence" at the Quail Hollow Club. The event, which raised more than $75,000, was co-sponsored by the PGA TOUR Wives Association, the Avon Foundation and the Quail Hollow Championship.
"I think for so many years, domestic violence is something people don't talk about," Wright said. "They like to pretend it's not happening or that it happens to somebody else. But it's happening everywhere -- it may be happening to your neighbor. So I'm just thrilled to see so many people out here raising awareness for it because it needs to stop.
"There doesn't need to be another young child who grows up and has to kiss a picture of her momma at night instead of her actual mom."
Wright put her daughter's orphaned blonde toddler in a stroller and walked the nine-hole version of the event with other relatives and friends wearing "Team Brittany" t-shirts. A host of other victims were similarly remembered and each "In Loving Memory of ..." message tugged at the heartstrings.
During the opening ceremony before the 18-hole walkers set out on their 7,442-yard trek around the lush Quail Hollow layout just after 5 p.m., Amy Wilson, the president of the PGA TOUR Wives Association, revealed some staggering statistics.
"Eighty-four women were killed (by domestic violence) in North Carolina last year," Wilson said. "And every nine seconds a woman is abused -- emotionally, physically or sexually."
Many in the crowd of men and women, young and old, had first-hand knowledge of such abject cruelty. Others might not think they did, but might sometime be surprised to find out reality hit closer to home than they thought.
Several dozen members of the PGA TOUR Wives Association led off the walk. They were clad in pink t-shirts with the organization's logo on the front and the words: "Giving time to others; Giving back to communities; Giving through Golf" inscribed on the back.
Some husbands like Jeff Maggert and significant others like Nick Watney stopped their preparation on the nearby putting green and watched as the 600 or so set out. Other TOUR players like Wilson's husband Mark, Johnson Wagner and Webb Simpson attended a reception after the walk was over.
"It is an honor for us to lend support for this event by hosting it on our golf course," said Kym Hougham, executive director of the Quail Hollow Championship.
The walk is the latest initiative of the Avon Foundation for Women's Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program, which was launched in 2004. More than $14 million has been raised and awarded to 400 domestic violence organizations in the U.S. alone.
Carol Kurzig, president of the Avon Foundation for Women, told the walkers that grants of $25,000 each would be given to two local domestic violence organizations -- The Shelter of Gaston County and the United Family Services Shelter for Battered Women.
"It is clear through our partnership to create Walk the Course Against Domestic Violence that the Avon Foundation for Women shares our mission to help children and families," Wilson said. "With these funds, we will be able to really make a difference for the lives of so many in the Charlotte area."
Libby McLaughlin, vice president of Development and Communication for UFS, said the money is sorely needed. The Charlotte shelter has 29 beds and is already filled to capacity. Another 15 women and children are being housed in local hotels and motels.
"So what this money's going to help us do (is) at least continue with our hotel/motel program in order to handle the expanding need that we're seeing," McLaughlin said.
Women currently can stay in the short-term, crisis-oriented shelter for only 30 days. McLaughlin said UFS is conducting a capital campaign to raise money to build a shelter with at least 80 beds -- and hopefully more -- that could allow women more flexibility and time to create a safety plan for themselves and their families.
As McLaughlin watched the 18-hole walkers line the entire left side of the first fairway, she was overwhelmed.
"Standing up there watching the 18-holers take off, it just gives me goosebumps, goosebumps," she said. "When this started out, it was, like, who knew? We had hopes and expectations, but the reality is -- between Avon and the PGA TOUR Wives and the support of the Quail Hollow Championship -- this is just past our wildest dreams."
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