By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

 

With the sun shining down on Valley Grande golf course, there was no rain to stop golfers from participating in a classic that’ll benefit the special-needs children of Dallas County.

Mayor George Evans’ Charity Golf Classic was held Monday after being pushed back from Wednesday, Nov. 16 due to inclement weather.

Golfers representing local businesses and organizations from around the county teamed up for the 3-on-3 classic, with proceeds going to supporting special-needs children throughout the county.

Evans said he was pleased to see many golfers return after the event was rained out last Wednesday.

“The turnout is very good,” Evans said. “Under the circumstances we had last Wednesday, we were short of some people because of the rain and the weather, but the majority of people came back and that’s a good sign they support this charity. I’m just thankful for the ones who returned, the ones who donated their time, service, as well as gifts and things like that.”
Last year’s classic raised $12,000 which was split between a number of local organizations, such as Cahaba Mental Health, which assist special-needs children.

“The benefit is that the agencies use that money for their needs,” Evans said. “Based on their needs and based on cutbacks from federal and state government, they take that money and buy special things for the children that they can use in terms of concrete things like materials or equipment and things like that that they don’t have money to buy, they use these funds to buy those.”

Probate Judge Kim Ballard, who co-sponsors the event with Evans and Valley Grande Mayor Tom Lee, said the funds will go a long way toward helping the special needs children of the county and the people who assist them.

“It’s a great event,” Ballard said. “The money goes to the special-needs kids and the people who work with those kids do a great job and this gives them a little resource to do it with. I applaud the mayor for doing this and certainly I’m proud to support it from a county standpoint any way we can.”