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By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Publisher

SELMA – A longstanding tradition in the community, a benefit golf tournament is set to take place next week to support local schools and special needs students across Dallas County.

The Evans Special Benefit Fund Golf Classic will return Wednesday, Oct. 15 to the Valley Grande Golf Course with the hope of another special year.

This year will mark the 15th year for the event, a special milestone after last year’s tournament raised $15,000, which was distributed across the county for Dallas County and Selma City schools, as well as the Cahaba Center for Mental Health.

The tournament not only supports a good cause, but it continues the memory of George Patrick Evans, who was the special education coordinator for Dallas County Schools.

His wife Jeannie not only made sure to keep his legacy alive by continuing to run the tournament he started, but also keep doing what he loved doing by impacting students through the funds raised.

“George was the special education coordinator for Dallas County Schools, and he absolutely fell in love with the students,” Jeannie said during last year’s tournament. “Once he became mayor, he decided to start up this tournament with the goal of raising funds to help the special needs students of our area.”

She credited the sponsors and the attendees for continuing to make it a success each year.

With last year’s event raising $15,000, the goal is for another strong year this year as well.

The event will take place once again at Valley Grande Golf Course and will benefit Dallas County Schools, Selma City Schools and the Cahaba Center for Mental Health.

Sponsorship opportunities are available by reaching out to Jeannie at (334) 327-0326 or evansjeannie1@yahoo.com. You can also contact Patrick Evans at (334) 715-1083 or patdevans@gmail.com.

A platinum sponsorship is $800, a gold sponsorship is $600 and a silver sponsorship is $400. Friend of special needs opportunities are available at $100.

You can also enter to play as a team of three with a men’s and women’s scramble for $300 per team or $100 per person.

To make a donation or set up a sponsorship, checks can be made payable to Evans Special Benefit Fund, Inc. P.O. Box 909, Selma, AL 36701 or via Paypal at paypal.me/gevansgolf.

“The success of the event is due to the sponsors and teams who participate in the event,” Jeannie said.