While the A-Day competition will take place Saturday, two groups on campus have coordinated another contest today to benefit the on-campus RISE School for developmentally disabled children and their normally developing peers.
Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and the Student Alumni Association will host their 3rd annual RISE and Shine Charity Golf Tournament today at the Country Club of Tuscaloosa.
Entry fee for UA students, active members of the National Alumni Association and ATO alumni is $100 and $125 for standard players.
The past two tournaments have raised almost $10,000 for the RISE School and the Student Alumni Association’s two Student Leadership Scholarships, said Alex McNair, vice president for special events for the SAA.
“When the tournament first began in 2009, the Executive Boards of SAA and ATO saw an opportunity to benefit a meaningful charity that was closely related to The University of Alabama,” McNair said.
“By benefitting RISE, we’re contributing to the education of the children who go to the school, as well as UA students who complete practicum at RISE,” he said.
Will Pylant, ATO’s public relations chairman, said the organizations have raised about $4,300 as of Thursday morning.
Pylant said 40 to 50 players are projected to play this year.
This year, the tournament will be hosted at a different location than the prior years.
“For the past two years, the event was held at a golf course just outside of Birmingham,” McNair said. “This year, though, we saw an opportunity to move the tournament to Tuscaloosa and host it on the Friday of A-Day weekend to draw in alumni, Tide fans and Tuscaloosa natives.”
ATO president Mark Foley encourages participation from the student body to benefit a good cause.
“Students will not only have the opportunity to start the weekend off with a round of golf but also make a meaningful investment into a successful program that benefits children with physical disabilities,” he said.
Monetary and prize donations have been contributed by local businesses and organizations.
McNair said the highest donors include The National Alumni Association, The Ferguson Center and Nick’s Kids Foundation.
“There are dozens of prizes to be had,” he said. “We’ll feature prize packages for first, second, third and last place teams, a silent auction with fifteen different items, and a raffle with close to twenty items.”
Players and teams can register at saaatoriseandshine2011.eventbrite.com or at the event until 12:30 p.m.
Registration and lunch take place between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and a shotgun start will begin the tournament at 1 p.m.
