Sixteen-year-old Plano resident Ben Sater, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) former patient and founder of KidSwing golf tournament benefiting TSRHC, has set a goal of raising a total of $1 million before he goes to college. The all-kids golf tournament—a nine-hole, best-ball scramble for players ages 7 to 18—has raised approximately $500,000 for the hospital since 2003.
Organizers expect a record number of participants this year, with 500 children expected to play in the sixth annual tournament. Those who enter are encouraged to raise $100 for the hospital by asking family and friends to sponsor them. Last year, most participants brought in much more than the suggested amount.
KidSwing, the first event of its kind organized by a TSRHC patient, is different from other charity golf tournaments because only children are eligible to play. For more than eight years, Ben received treatments, including two surgeries and physical therapy, at TSRHC for a condition called trigger finger. When Ben’s mother, Kim, told him that the hospital does not charge patient families for medical care, he decided to use his love for golf to express his gratitude to the hospital. Last year, more than 330 young golfers raised $182,000 for the hospital.
The tournament is designed for golfers of all levels of ability to have an opportunity to experience the joy of giving back and “playing golf for kids.†The sixth annual KidSwing Golf Tournament will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 16, at Brookhaven Country Club, 3333 Golfing Green Drive, in Dallas. There will be two shotgun starts, a morning start at 9 a.m. and an afternoon start at 2 p.m.
ABOUT TSRHC:
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is one of the nation’s leading pediatric centers for the treatment of orthopedic conditions, certain related neurological disorders and learning disorders, such as dyslexia. There is no charge to patient families for treatment at the hospital, and admission is open to Texas children from birth to 18 years of age. For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, please call (214) 559-5000 or (800) 421-1121 or visit www.tsrhc.org.
