Charity spotlight: Springfield-Greene County Park Board

The Espinosa daughters are appreciative of the PCCC's donations to the Springfield-Greene County Park Board Scholarship Fund.
The Espinosa daughters are appreciative of the PCCC’s donations to the Springfield-Greene County Park Board Scholarship Fund.

There is nothing quite like the heart-warming smile of a proud mom. And the best example may be Silvia Espinosa.

You see, her three daughters couldn’t have attended programs at the Springfield-Greene County Park Board without donations to the organization’s Scholarship Fund. And the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper played a role.

All three of her daughters learned to swim at the Chesterfield Family Center. One of the daughters gained confidence through dance lessons at the Doling Family Center.

“We are so thankful for the scholarships my three daughters received. They would not have been able to benefit from these learning experiences if we didn’t have the funding for it,” Espinosa said. “It puts this mom at ease knowing they were not only getting physically fit but also learning personal safety, how to follow directions while building social skills!”

Now here’s your chance again to help children such as the Espinosa daughters and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board Scholarship Fund. The Price Cutter tournament, a PGA Web.com Tour stop, returns this August at Highland Springs and will keep aiding children’s charities. In the past 26 years, the PCCC has gifted almost $13 million.

About the Springfield-Greene County Park Board Scholarship Fund

Horse-back riding is one of the many programs offered by the Park Board.
Horse-back riding is one of the many programs offered by the Park Board.

If you wonder if the Scholarship Fund truly makes a difference, look no further than the Espinosa family.

“They were also able to learn how to responsibly ride and care for a horse at the Valley Water Mill Equestrian Center,” Silvia Espinosa said of her three daughters. “This was such a pleasurable experience for them that they are eagerly anticipating next year when there is more scholarship funds available, so they can reapply and continue their horseback riding lessons.”

The Springfield-Greene County Park Board has been around for more than 100 years and was established in 1913, building its profile to the point that it has earned a positive, national reputation.

Not only can your kids play in a sports league such as baseball or volleyball, but the Park Board also offers a ton of other fun activities such as summer camps, after-school programs, zoo education, dance, archery, martial arts, golf, tennis, canoe and kayak rentals and much, much more.

Dance classes also are popular.
Dance classes also are popular.

As our community grows, requests for scholarships continue to increase. The Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk and the Price Cutter Charity Championship are the two largest sources of funding for the Scholarship Fund.

Since 2008, the Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $184,000, helping more than 6,000 kids play sports, go to summer camp and other youth programs designed to build skills and confidence while maintaining a healthy lifestyle, regardless of their families’ ability to afford registration fees.

To be eligible for scholarships, students must live in Greene County and qualify for free or reduced school lunch (or otherwise meet federal income guidelines). Scholarships are awarded based on availability of funds and applicants’ needs. The average individual award is about $30, but kids are eligible for up to $90 a year, enough to allow most kids to take part in more than one activity.

The PCCC’s contributions help families such as the Espinosas to cover a few more dollars in their program applications.

“One-hundred percent of the Park Board Scholarship Fund comes from donations and fundraisers,” said Jenny Fillmer Edwards, Public Information Administrator with the Springfield-Greene County Park Board. “And 100 percent of that money is invested in kids in our community who need help accessing sports and programs. The challenge is keeping up with requests for scholarships. That’s where events like the Price Cutter Charity Championship come in, to help keep the door open to everyone who qualifies for assistance.”

RISING STARS, RAISING HOPES

  • BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS: Businesses also can support the PCCC through various sponsorships, such as the skyboxes on the 9th and 18th greens (with food badges), on-course signage and events such as a dozen Pro-Ams. Businesses also can donate a gift card with at least a $25 value in the name of your charity of choice to benefit them in the Golf Ball & Charity Auction presented by Copy Products, Inc. and University Plaza.

    The Ultimate
    In The Ultimate, sit in an air-conditioned skybox on the 18th green and have a chance to win a new Corvette Stingray.
  • WIN A NEW TRUCK: The purchase of a $25 TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes ticket can win one of 500 daily gift cards as well as grand prizes of $10,000 and a 2016 Ford F-150 XLT. It’s also good for a four-day tournament pass.

    Win this truck
    Win this truck in the TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes.
  • SEE THE FUTURE OF THE PGA TOUR: The PCCC is from Aug. 5-15, with the pros beginning play on Aug. 11 at Highland Springs Country Club. For tickets or other ways to assist, call the Price Cutter Charity Championship staff at 417-887-3400.

    Dawie vander Walt shows his winners trophy after the final round of the Price Cutter Charity Championship at Highland Springs Country Club in Springfield on August 16, 2015.
    Dawie vander Walt won the 2015 PCCC. (Photo courtesy of StidzMedia.)
  • HELP THE SPRINGFIELD-GREENE COUNTY PARK BOARD SCHOLARSHIP FUND: The Park Board offers numerous youth athletic and recreational programs, but a number of kids’ families need financial assistance for registration fees. Scholarships may be available for kids 18 and under who live in Springfield or Greene County and meet income guidelines. Call 864-1049 or go to parkboard.org.

Park Board’s Scholarship Fund ‘puts this mom at ease’

The Espinosa daughters are appreciative of the PCCC's donations to the Springfield-Greene County Park Board Scholarship Fund.
The Espinosa daughters, here at the Chesterfield Family Center, are appreciative of the PCCC’s donations to the Springfield-Greene County Park Board Scholarship Fund.

There is nothing quite like the heart-warming smile of a proud mom. And the best example may be Silvia Espinosa.

You see, her three daughters couldn’t have attended programs at the Springfield-Greene County Park Board without donations to the organization’s Scholarship Fund. And the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper played a role.

All three learned to swim at the Chesterfield Family Center. One of the daughters gained confidence through dance lessons at the Doling Family Center.

“We are so thankful for the scholarships my three daughters received. They would not have been able to benefit from these learning experiences if we didn’t have the funding for it,” Espinosa said. “It puts this mom at ease knowing they were not only getting physically fit but also learning personal safety, how to follow directions while building social skills!”

Now here’s your chance again to help children such as the Espinosa daughters and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board Scholarship Fund. The Price Cutter tournament, a PGA Web.com Tour stop, returns this August at Highland Springs a year after generating $1 million-plus for local children’s charities.

More on the Scholarship Fund in a second, but here’s how to help:

SUPPORTING THE PCCC = SUPPORTING CHARITIES

Buy a $25 TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes ticket and all the money goes to your favorite charity -- and you also could win this 2015 Ford Mustang.
Buy a $25 TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes ticket and all the money goes to your favorite charity — and you also could win this 2015 Ford Mustang.
  • HELP THE SPRINGFIELD-GREENE COUNTY PARK BOARD SCHOLARSHIP FUND: The Park Board offers numerous youth athletic and recreational programs, but a number of kids’ families need financial assistance for registration fees. Scholarships may be available for kids 18 and under who live in Springfield or Greene County and meet income guidelines. Call 864-1049 or go to parkboard.org.
  • FOR GOLF FANS, WIN PRIZES: The purchase of a $25 TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes ticket means chances to grand prizes such as a 2015 Ford Mustang and $10,000 as well as 500 daily prizes such as restaurant gift cards. The ticket also is a four-day pass to the PCCC on Aug. 13-16 at Highland Springs Country Club. Contact the local charity of your choice, simply because they revenue directly from the TLC Property Charity Sweepstakes tickets marked with their names.
  • BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS: Businesses can support the PCCC through various sponsorships, such as the daily newsletter, website or through several events such as a dozen Pro-Ams. Additionally, restaurants, clothing stores and entertainment stops are asked to donate gift cards with at least a $25 value in the name of your charity of choice to benefit them in the Golf Ball Charity Auction.
  • CONTACT: Call the Price Cutter Charity Championship staff at 417-887-3400. The tournament is Aug. 7-17 at Highland Springs Country Club, with the pros beginning play on Aug. 13.

About the Springfield-Greene County Park Board Scholarship Fund

Horse-back riding is one of the many programs offered by the Park Board.
Horse-back riding is one of the many programs offered by the Park Board.

If you wonder if the Scholarship Fund truly makes a difference, look no further than the Espinosa family.

“They were also able to learn how to responsibly ride and care for a horse at the Valley Water Mill Equestrian Center,” Silvia Espinosa said of her three daughters. “This was such a pleasurable experience for them that they are eagerly anticipating next year when there is more scholarship funds available, so they can reapply and continue their horseback riding lessons.”

The Springfield-Greene County Park Board has been around for more than 100 years and was established in 1913, building its profile to the point that it has earned a positive, national reputation.

Not only can your kids play in a sports league such as baseball or volleyball, but the Park Board also offers a ton of other fun activities such summer camps, after-school programs, zoo education, dance, archery, martial arts, golf, tennis, canoe and kayak rentals and much, much more.

Dance classes also are popular.
Dance classes also are popular at the Park Board.

As the Springfield community grows, requests for scholarships continue to increase. The Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk and the Price Cutter Charity Championship are the two largest sources of funding for the Scholarship Fund.

In 2013, more than 900 scholarships were awarded, allowing kids to take part in sports, summer camp and other youth programs designed the build skills and confidence while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The Price Cutter golf tournament’s contributions help families such as the Espinosas to cover a few more dollars in their program applications.

“The dollars we get for the Scholarship Fund are a huge impact to us and the community,” Park Board marketing coordinator Diana Tyndall said of the PCCC donations. “However, the requests for scholarships often are greater than the funding, which is the other side of the story.”