The Park City Board of Realtors Philanthropic Foundations Golf Tournament
Child abuse is something none of us want to believe happens in our tranquil mountain town. But it does, and the statistics are alarming. In Wasatch and Summit Counties, one out of every four girls and one out of every six boys will experience physical and/or sexual abuse during their childhood. When these crimes are reported, the standard practice across the nation is to drag the victimized child though scores of interviews with the police, medical professionals, lawyers, and many more. The emotional damage done by the abuse they’ve endured is often amplified by the stress of so many cross-examinations by strangers who are often asking the same questions. To prevent this additional trauma, Summit and Wasatch Counties are doing things differently by supporting their area Children’s Justice Centers, (CJC). The two local CJC’s, (one in Wasatch County, one in Summit County), bring all the involved professionals together so a child can be interviewed just once. The interviewer has received child-specific training in forensic questioning and the interviews are recorded on DVD’s. These recordings then serve as a child’s testimony for all aspects of the justice system all the way through court proceedings.
The CJC’s are designed to be places that feel safe and comfortable for children. Grownups come second here. Helping traumatized children bring their offenders to justice is the top priority. Cozy rooms filled with overstuffed, kid-size furniture and toys replace cold police interrogation rooms. Warm brownies are usually baking in the kitchen and cartoons are playing on the TV. Grownups wearing scary uniforms or dark suits are kept out of sight, but watch the interview during taping from another room to ensure all the requirements of the legal system are met.
The Park City Board of Realtors has a very active Philanthropic Foundation that supports the efforts of the CJC’s in Wasatch and Summit Counties. One of their biggest fundraisers for this cause.
One for a Cause is the annual golf tournament that donates 100% of the proceeds to the CJC’s. Through this tournament, participants help ensure that victimized children receive the best care possible during the long legal process. This is the seventh year this tournament will be held, and every penny raised has been donated to the CJC’s. “Without this kind of community support, there is no way our mission could be accomplished,” said Kenna Jones, Director of the Wasatch County CJC. “We are so grateful to the people who participate.”
This September 17th, 2012 the Park City Board of Realtors® Philanthropic Golf Tournament will once again kick off with a shotgun start at the breathtakingly beautiful Red Ledges golf course in Heber City, Utah. Teams will compete in a fun-filled day of not- too-serious golf, food, drinks, and prizes. All entrants receive pre-
tournament gift bags, lunch, and a post-tournament buffet. Prizes will be awarded to the 1st Place Gross Team, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Net Teams, Men’s and Women’s Closest to the Pin, Men’s and Women’s Longest Drive, and many Hole-In-One Opportunities. There will also be a silent auction with several fabulous items, most notably a three- night stay at the Montage Hotel. Many participants return year after year to catch up with friends, spend a day playing what is arguably
the most beautiful golf course in the country, (Red Ledges), as well as support a cause everyone can get behind: protecting the children in our communities. “The participants in this tournament are making
an incredibly important contribution to our efforts to improve the system of justice for abused children,” said Christina Sally, Director of the Summit County CJC. “It is a clear example of people taking responsibility for making sure the community they live in is safe for everyone.”
Give yourself the gift of knowing you’ve done some good for your community while enjoying a wonderful day golfing. For more information and enrollment call Jay Sheridan 435-901-1372.
