Plant City golfers will lace up their shoes this weekend to help put shoes on local children in need at the Plant City Junior Woman’s Club’s first Charity Golf Tournament.
The tournament will take place April 6, at Walden Lake Golf and Country Club. Registration will take place at 7 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 8 a.m. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Plant City Shoe Project, which provides shoes, socks and other school supplies to more than 550 students at local elementary schools each year.
“We wanted to do something that we haven’t done before,” said PCJWC member Tyger Jimenez, one of the event organizers. “We knew there was a large group of people who play golf in Plant City with Walden Lake being here, so we decided to have a golf tournament.”
The club is known for its charity events, including the Baby Parade at the Florida Strawberry Festival and the annual Little Miss Plant City Contest, which was held March 23, at Plant City High School.
“We thought having a golf tournament would be a new way to bring in money for our shoe project,” said member and event organizer Kendelle Jimenez, Tyger’s sister-in-law.
The tournament will feature a visit from the Tampa Bay Lightning cheerleaders, thanks in large part to PCJWC member and fellow cheerleader Crystal Romano. Chili’s and Johnson’s Barbeque will offer food at the event, and a post-tournament party will be held at O’Brien’s Irish Pub.
Kendelle said funds have limited PCJWC in years past to be able to provide about 40 pairs of shoes per elementary school.
“We hope, with this tournament, we can raise more money to buy more shoes,” she said.
Each year, participating schools make a list of their students in need. Shoes then are purchased from Payless ShoeSource, and the club, along with corporate donators, go to the schools and deliver the new kicks.
James Hardie Industries has been a supporter of the project, recently adopting a school and providing the needed shoes for those students, including sizing the feet of the children.
“They find it very rewarding,” Tyger said.
Kendelle agrees.
“I’ve participated in the shoe project for the past four years, and all the juniors seem to really enjoy it,” she said. “A lot of these kids receiving shoes have never had new shoes before. Many have only had hand-me-downs. It’s almost shocking to see their reactions in person. Some even want to keep the new boxes, because they are so happy, and they will run around in their new shoes.”
Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.
IF YOU GO
WHEN: April 6; registration at 7 a.m. and a shotgun start at 8 a.m.
WHERE: Walden Lake Golf and Country Club; 2001 Country Club Drive
REGISTRATION: Day-of registration is available.
COST: $75 for individual players or $300 for a standard foursome.
INFORMATION: Kendelle Jimenez, (813) 997-3359 or Tyger Jimenez, (813) 507-8127