Former Selma Mayor George Evans didn’t have to keep up the tradition of putting on his golf tournament to raise money for special needs students in Selma and Dallas County, but we’re glad he did.

The tournament, which started in 2009 during Evans’ first term as mayor, raises money to give back to the city and county schools’ special needs programs as well as Cahaba Mental Health Center and Easter Seals. Each year there is a party thrown the day before the golf tournament, where the students come to the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center and have a grand time dancing, singing, laughing and smiling.

We’re glad to see Evans keep this tradition alive even after being out of office for nearly a year.

If you haven’t been, it is a site to see. It is hard not to smile at the site of such pure joy and happiness. Last year, the fundraiser was able to give back $10,000 to the four programs, and Evans was hoping to give that much or more this year. Evans and the volunteers that make this happen deserve a round of applause.