From Left: Eddie Brooker, tournament director; Murray County Sheriff Gary Langford; Dan McEntire, Chair of the MountainView board of trustees; Nikita Jordan. executive of Cherokee Estates and MountainView; Whitfield County Sheriff Scott Chitwood; and Bob Beavers, Chair of the Cherokee Estate board of Trustees.
Area golfers are invited to attend the annual Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes Golf Tournament.
Tournament director Eddie Brooker says this year’s event will be a combined fundraiser for Cherokee Estate Girls Home in Whitfield County and MountainView Boys Home in Murray County.
“It’s always one of the most anticipated tournaments of the year,” said Mr. Brooker. “What a great way to have fun, meet new friends, and help young people.”
This year’s tournament is Friday, Aug. 22, at Indian Trace Golf Course in Chatsworth. Shotgun starts will be at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded.
Mr. Brooker said team sponsorships are available. Cost for a team is $450 and includes the round of golf with carts, range balls, lunch, and one mulligan and one red tee box per golfer. In addition, one additional mulligan per player will be available for $10 each.
Tournament and hole sponsorships are also available.
Nikita Jordan, executive director of both Cherokee Estate and Mountain View, said the fundraiser is an important fundraiser for the homes. She expressed appreciation to Bernita Cofield from Indian Trace for agreeing to host the first ever joint tournament. Cofield is a member of the MountainView board of trustees.
“In addition to helping with daily expenses, the tournament supports a lot of the activities and community involvement of our children such as vacation, camps, educational needs and other extracurricular activities,” Ms. Jordan said.
The youth homes are a direct result of the generosity of local citizens. Cherokee Estate was originally known as Cherokee Boys Estate. Our community has long taken a special interest in the home. Existing cottages, an education center complete with a computer lab, a gym, a chapel, and much more have been built by separate donations from local individuals.
With the exception of siblings from time to time, the home is now exclusively for girls. Boys are now housed at the separate MountainView Boys Home in Chatsworth.
“Cherokee Estate and MountainView provide a stable home for youngsters who might not otherwise have that benefit,” Ms. Jordan said. “We provide them with a loving, nurturing environment that many would not otherwise have.”
Whitfield County Sheriff Scott Chitwood said Georgia Sheriff's Youth Homes have assisted in developing young people from across the state into leaders.
“For over 50 years we have provided a home setting of love, care and leadership for our youth who have unfortunately been placed by the courts of the state of Georgia,” said Mr. Chitwood. “It’s something that we and the many supporters from this area should be very proud of, that we support very strongly, and we think we get great, great mileage out of.”
MountainView is the most recent addition to the youth home family. “Murray Countians have embraced the residents of MountainView,” said Sheriff Gary Langford. “From the little things to the big items, community support is so important.”
“The purpose of each of the Five Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes is to provide a secure future for Georgia’s needy and worthy children who, through no fault of their own, require out of home placement,” said Dan McEntire, chairman of the MountainView board of trustees.
“The children are given love, guidance, and structure,” added Cherokee Estate Board Chair Bob Beavers. “The youth homes are not reform schools or correctional institutions. They are warm, caring and secure places for children to live.”
For more information on the golf tournament or any other way of helping Cherokee Estate or MountainView, please call 706 259-8581 or email: office.cemv@gmail.com.