The organizations A Father Forever and Why Can We Make a Difference are set to sponsor the eighth annual Father-Child Golf Tournament on Saturday, April 2 at the Maggie Hathaway Golf Course at Jesse Owens Park. The tournament will consist of one round of nine holes and winners of the tournament will get prizes.
Children no older than eight years old can come out and compete alongside a father or a father figure.
“We wanted to do something where we can engage our fathers and their children at a free event in our community,” said NBA referee Derek Richardson.
The tournament also includes a carnival with food and activities.
“We want everybody in the community to come out to have a chance to play games,” Richardson said.
NBA referee Derek Richardson wants children to see positive examples Black men investing in predominantly African American neighborhoods.
Richardson and his wife started the Why Can’t We Make A Difference foundation. The couple was inspired by the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, the foundation provides funds for people enduring unexpected tragedies.
“My wife and I take a significant part of our budget and apply it to Why Can’t We Make a Difference,” Richardson said.
Richardson’s foundation also has an enrichment program that provides tutoring for students before school each day. This school year, they provide tutoring to children at 54th street Elementary School.
“It’s helped with their behavior, it’s helped with academic improvement,” said Richardson. “When I was in school, I had enrichment, we had woodshop.”
William Denson founded A Father Forever in 1995, it became a non-profit organization in 2003. The mission of the organization is to encourage men to be meticulous and loving fathers.
“He’s an educator who understands the plight of our community,” Richardson said about Denson. “His goal is to assist as many children and as many men as he can so they can be positive role models in the community.”
