17th annual golf tournament will benefit local domestic violence survivors

HAMILTON — The Marion County Domestic Violence Task Force will host its 17th Annual Golf Tournament Friday, Oct. 4, at the Pikeville Country Club.
Registration is held the day of the event, with two tee times available: either 8 a.m. or 1 p.m. Entry fees are $65 per player and include a lunch to be served at noon for all participants.
The golf tournament is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the task force, which uses all the funds raised to help support local domestic abuse survivors and the Safeplace shelter in Marion County.
We asked MCDVTF Co-chair Kim Lolley to explain what makes their annual golf tournament so successful and such a popular event.
“We believe our tournament appeals to golfers and sponsors year after year because we always try to improve the tournament experience for our golfers, and we focus our efforts to support our local shelter,” Lolley said. “I think our participants recognize the importance of supporting survivors of domestic violence in our community.
“The golf tournament also helps us kick off October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which makes it a wonderful event to start off a busy month for us as we try to bring outreach and awareness to our community.”
Lolley also explained more about how all the funds raised stay in the local community.
“Our task force makes sure that all of the profits from our tournament are used in our local shelter and through community events to raise awareness about preventing domestic violence and supporting the survivors of domestic violence in our community,” she said.
“We provide emergency hygiene kits for adults and children to our local law enforcement, city halls, fire stations and other locations so they have them on hand when a victim is in need. These hygiene kits contain contact information for us, Safeplace and our local Domestic Violence Survivor Support Group.
“We ensure that our local shelter has anything it needs for the survivors who seek shelter there, covering the cost of medicines, help with furnishings when they are able to leave shelter, as well as other areas and needs too numerous to name.”
She also noted the MCDVTF is present at local events and festivals with a booth so the public can have easy access to contact information for them and Safeplace, learn more about helping domestic violence survivors and to raise awareness of the presence of domestic violence in local communities.
Lolley was also asked to provide more information about Safeplace and those served by the facility.
“Safeplace specializes in helping survivors of domestic violence into a safe space to regroup and restart their lives free of the threat of violence,” she said.
“Through our work with them, we focus on raising funds so they can continue to offer services and shelter here in our local area. We also work to bring awareness to our community of the signs of domestic violence and how we can help survivors.
“According to current statistics, about one in three women and one in four men experience some type of domestic violence in their lifetime, and almost half of the women and men in the U.S. experience aggression from an intimate partner.
“The more people who are aware of the signs of domestic violence or at least know how to find help for someone who is in a domestic violence situation, the better off our community will be. We strive to be a source of help in Marion County.”
Lolley also provided more information about sponsorships and how grateful the MCDVTF is for everyone’s long-term support.
“We have sponsors who have been faithful corporate sponsors for the last 17 years, and we value that they think highly enough of our cause and what we do in the community to continue sponsoring every year,” she noted.
“A corporate sponsorship is $300 and includes a two-person team, a hole sign and advertisement. We also have dedicated hole sponsors who have been faithfully sponsoring every year since we started, as well as new ones who come in every year.
“A hole sponsor is $50. Our organization has 501 (c) (3) status, so donations are tax deductible.”
If your business, church or organization is looking for a great cause, or if you as an individual wish to support something so locally beneficial, please consider joining the sponsor lineup and/or playing in the tournament.
“We appreciate the support of our local businesses, churches, civic organization and individuals,” Lolley said. “They make our tournament successful, and we couldn't do it without them. They are the reason we can keep a shelter open and running here in Marion County.
“We work closely with our local schools, as well. The more awareness we can bring regarding what domestic violence looks like, the impact it has on families and especially children in our communities, the better for the people in our community.”
For more information, Lolley can be reached at 205-921-6019. Safeplace’s 24-hour hotlines are 256-767-6210 and 800-550-9215.