64 Golfers and 28 Sponsors Came Together at TPC Sugarloaf in Support of Nonprofit Organization Devoted to Ending Homelessness – One Family at a Time
Duluth, Ga., May 7, 2024 – On April 15 – with blue skies above and the greens of TPC Sugarloaf below – 64 golfers took to the 18-hole course with the purpose of giving families in need a well-deserved “mulligan” during the 2024 Rainbow Village Second Chance Golf Classic, presented by Northside Hospital. Somewhere between the shotgun start and the 19th-hole reception back at the clubhouse, the golfers and event sponsors had raised $112,601. This significant amount will be instrumental in furthering Rainbow Village‘s mission to bring help, hope, housing, and healing to families experiencing homelessness.
“At Rainbow Village, we’re in the ‘business’ of giving second chances to families who have found themselves without a home,” said Melanie Conner, CEO of the nonprofit. “Just last week, one of our local stations reported that a study conducted by Florida Atlantic University identified Atlanta as the city with the most overpriced housing market in the U.S. With affordable housing becoming more and more out of reach for Metro Atlanta families, transitional housing nonprofits like Rainbow Village are more vital than ever. In addition to transitional housing for up to two years for families with children, we provide them with the counseling, guidance, education, and support they need to become self-sufficient and thrive beyond the boundaries of our campus in Duluth. We are so profoundly grateful for the village that surrounds our village with love and support. The money raised out on that course will go a long way in supporting our programs and the families they serve – bringing them one step closer to a brighter future.”
While the purpose of the Second Chance Golf Classic is as serious as it gets, it was all fun and games for the golfers, Rainbow Village team members, volunteers, and sponsor representatives for just a handful of hours. There was no shortage of winners during the charity tournament:
- First Place Winners: Ed Shaddix, Matt Champitto, Todd Townes, and Derrin Wilson, representing the Northside Hospital Team
- Second Place Winners: Dan Kaufman, Rich Johnson, Brandon Hartley, and Gavin Williams, representing Axis Companies
- Men’s Longest Drive Winner: David Peck, representing Northeast Georgia Health Systems
- Women’s Longest Drive Winner: Grace Brackman, representing Formex
- Closest to Pin Winner: Garrett Kliphouse, representing Lamborghini ATL
- Putting Contest Winner: Greg Boston, representing Formex
- Tee Off in Monterey Raffle Winner: Doug Miller – awarding him airplane tickets for two, a three-night stay with a golf course view at sunny California’s Hyatt Regency Monterey, and a round of golf for two with cart at the Links at Spanish Bay and Del Monte Golf Course.
Conner and the rest of the Rainbow Village team would like to thank these event sponsors for their enduring support, including Northside Hospital, AXIS Companies, Lamborghini Atlanta, Columbia Engineering, a memorial sponsorship to honor the late Pete Lorentzen and Bob Walsh, Subaru of Gwinnett, and Northeast Georgia Health Systems.
Next up on the nonprofit’s fundraising calendar is a “Better Together” gathering of the Rainbow Village Women’s Giving Circle at COhatch in Duluth on June 20 at 6 p.m. and the annual “We Are Family” Benefit Gala at Atlanta Athletic Club on September 7 at 6 p.m. To learn more about Rainbow Village, volunteer to support its mission, or make an online donation, visit www.RainbowVillage.org.
About Rainbow Village: Established in 1991, Rainbow Village is a transformative 501(c)3 nonprofit program located in Duluth, GA, that serves families currently experiencing homelessness. Our model provides safe housing, education, and community support systems that allow families to confidently embark on the journey to self-sufficiency and thrive beyond our village. To learn more about the mission at the heart of Rainbow Village, make a tax-deductible donation or register as a volunteer, visit www.RainbowVillage.org. To stay up-to-date on the latest Rainbow Village news and events, the nonprofit invites you to connect with them on social media, including Facebook @RainbowVillageInc, Instagram @rainbowvillageinc, Twitter @rainbowvillage1, and LinkedIn @rainbow-village-inc.
