Del Webb Father/Son Challenge’s Family Focus Extends To Support For Arnold Palmer Hospital For Children
ChampionsGate, FL - As a unique tournament featuring the pairings of golf legends with their sons, family has always been a major theme of the annual Del Webb Father/Son Challenge, and each year a big part of the emphasis on family comes through the tournament’s support for the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
Two years ago, at only five years old, Gavin Fitzgerald wanted to raise money for less fortunate kids through golf, and with the help of his parents, organized a fundraising tournament in 2007 to benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Gavin’s Kids Fore Kids tournament brought together kids aged 4-17, their families, neighbors and local sponsors to raise just over $10,000 for the Hospital and culminated with young Gavin presenting a check to Arnold Palmer himself.
“When I tell people Gavin’s story, the response is always amazement,” said Wes Bishop, Major Gifts Officer for the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation. “For a five-year-old boy to have such a caring and giving outlook at that age is very special. He has an eye and a heart for kids, and he has done an amazing job raising money through his tournament, but even more importantly, he has inspired people to examine what they can do for others in our community.”
“There were so many parents, as well as kids, who came up to us during the tournament and just couldn’t thank us enough,” said Sondra Fitzgerald, Gavin’s mother. “They loved getting the kids involved in raising money for the hospital, and the families really enjoyed themselves.”
Due to extenuating circumstances, Gavin was not able to hold his Kids Fore Kids tournament in 2008, but both the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Del Webb Father/Son Challenge have extended their commitment to assist him in resurrecting the tournament in 2009.