It’s that time of year again, the turkey has been put away, bells are ringing, people at the grocery store are wearing Santa hats…Christmas is definitely coming! But while you and your loved ones are scrambling to find the perfect holiday purchases, other local children may not be so fortunate this year. In an effort to give local children a very, merry Christmas, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake will be providing presents for local disadvantaged children through their 21st Annual Santa’s Open Charity Golf Tournament.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a nonprofit organization that helps to provide a caring adult mentor for children who may not receive parental support at home. Through the help of these carefully selected mentors, each child in the program receives an adult figure to spend time with and look up to as a role model. As a result, the organization hopes that the involvement of this role model in the child’s life will influence children to make beneficial decisions and have a successful future.
The organization also plans events to provide activities for children and their mentors to participate in together. Such excursions include scavenger hunts through the Salisbury Zoo, a bowling fundraiser, as well as Shore Bird games. With a multitude of opportunities to become involved in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters is a rewarding and fun way to make a difference on the Eastern Shore.
According to Eastern Shore Director Jessica Mimms, the idea for the annual golfing tournament came about because “several members of our Advisory Board love golf so they volunteer every year to help.” The event has been a long-standing tradition said Mimms, adding “Santa’s Open has been around long before I even joined the agency… It’s a fun way to give back to the community.”
Golfers involved in the tournament help to support Big Brothers Big Sisters by participating in the event as well as by donating an unwrapped toy for a child between the ages of 7 and 17. The tournament takes place at the beautiful Ocean Pines Golf and Country Club in Berlin where an expected 76 golfers engage in friendly competition. Participants who win in the categories of the closest to the hole, longest drive, low net and low gross teams will receive an assortment of prizes.
For other great ways to help give back and make our community on the Shore stronger, go to the Big Brothers Big Sisters website and check out all of their terrific holiday events such as the Biggest Little Holiday Party being held at the Baltimore Aquarium.
