Panthers Play A Round and Then Some

We absolutely could not have asked for better weather to kick off the 2nd Annual Michael’s Way Charlotte Golf Tournament. Last Monday, May 8th, we gathered at the pristine Charlotte Country Club to play a round of golf, eat dinner, raise money for the kids and — oh yeah, meet some Carolina Panthers!

Thanks in large part to safety Kurt Coleman, we had 7 players participate in the daylong fundraiser, including hanging out after golf to meet some very excited children. Families from Levine Children’s Hospital came to the Club for dinner, yard games, and to get photos and autographs with their favorite football players. The Panthers could not have been more kind and attentive, spending the evening tossing the football around, giving out hugs, sharing fist-bumps, and creating lasting memories for the kids.

On top of that, we were able to raise funds and further explain our mission to a generous group of returning friends and new faces. After dinner, Juliet Galton, a social worker at Levine, got up to give a speech about the realities these families face day-to-day, and she knocked it out of the park — or rather, sank a hole-in-one! She said, “The word cancer is the scariest word you will ever have to hear when it pertains to a member of your family. Especially your son or your daughter. I’ve heard it described as ‘an assault on our family’.” There was not a dry eye on the patio. We are so grateful to hear directly from those who work with these children on a daily basis and have them share their knowledge and compassion with us.

Then, we were honored and astounded as Kurt Coleman got up on the microphone to kickstart a round of donations — and he did it all by speaking directly from the heart. He explained to our guests what ‘Fund the Mission’ is: a special part of the live auction that allows participants to directly donate to the families’ most pressing needs. Kurt himself started off with a personal donation of $1,000 to Michael’s Way — and then pledged to donate another $1,000 for EACH interception he makes this season! We were blown away both by his generosity and his desire to make these children a focus the whole season long!

We are beyond grateful to all the Panthers that took time out of their very busy schedules to join us and help create a memorable day for all of the kids and families in attendance. Thank you to Brenton Bersin, Kurt Coleman, Colin Jones, Andy Lee, David Mayo, Jared Norris & Zack Sanchez!

This year’s event raised over $70,000 for Michael’s Way! We could not have done this without the support of our gracious sponsors, our volunteers, and the terrific staff at Charlotte Country Club. We have been given so much by so many generous people in a multitude of ways, and we appreciate all that you do! Thank you for supporting our mission, and remember to keep an eye on our awesome Panther friends this season!