On Tuesday, Sept. 9, Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation held the inaugural Friends of Foster Children Charity Golf Tournament at The Club at Prescott Lakes benefiting Arizona’s foster community. Attended by Valley golfers, sponsors, club members, donors and AFFCF leadership, the tournament raised over $37,500 through sponsorship contributions, monetary donations from attendees, raffles and cost of tournament admission. The foster nonprofit gave away over $8,800 in raffle prizes and silent auction during the tournament, including a Chevrolet Trax sponsored by Casa Auto Group, to a guest who scored a hole-in-one. Funds raised will facilitate academic and career opportunities for youth in foster care enrolled in AFFCF’s Childhood Activities program, Post-Secondary programming and Keys to Success program, which create opportunities for children and youth in foster care to build self-esteem and be empowered to pursue their career and academic goals.
In addition to an 18-hole round of golf, participants enjoyed a complimentary breakfast and lunch and a raffle of various experiences and services from contributing partners.
“AFFCF’s very first funded ‘moment of joy’ for a youth was in 1984 in Prescott, when an eight-year-old child in foster care was able to attend flute lessons thanks to our funding. The Sept. 9 golf tournament in Prescott marked a full-circle moment for AFFCF – we’ve come a long way, and our capacity to continue serving the foster community will expand thanks to the generosity demonstrated during the tournament,” said Luis De La Cruz, president and CEO of AFFCF.
Sponsors for the event included the Margaret T. Morris Foundation, Pahnke Wealth Management Group of Raymond James, Sunwest Bank, VDigital Services, Las Fuentes Resort Village, Prescott Federal Credit Union, Wells Fargo Advisors, and a longtime AFFCF community supporter.
“I am thrilled that the tournament was such a fundraising success for AFFCF,” said Glenn Pahnke, portfolio management director and managing director at Pahnke Wealth Management Group of Raymond James, a gold sponsor of the tournament. “Our group recognizes the hard work being performed by AFFCF in facilitating positive change for Arizona’s foster community, and we look forward to seeing how the golf tournament event continues to grow in coming years.”
AFFCF is a Phoenix-based 501c3 that serves to enrich, educate and empower the lives of Arizona’s children and youth in foster care through its three primary focus areas: Childhood Activities, Keys to Success, and Post-Secondary programming. For more information about AFFCF and its various supportive programs for foster youth of all ages, please visit affcf.org.
