Joe and Jane Fulcher
What do EIL magazine, Ocean Forest golf course, Cabo San Lucas, and homeless dogs and cats have in common? The Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia (HSSCG)! On July 29th, eighty-eight golfers will have the opportunity to play in the 3rd Annual “Fore the Animals” Golf Classic on beautiful Sea Island. This mega event benefits HSSCG’s endeavors to eradicate animal homelessness through adoptions and proactive spay and neuter surgeries.
This year’s tournament is notably different from prior year events due to the outstanding generosity of a $100,000 matching gift challenge from the Malcolm Fraser Foundation and Joe and Jane Fulcher. Jane sees a connection between the inability of animals “to tell us when they are lonely, being mistreated or hurting” and “people who suffer from the speech disorder of stuttering, such as my father, Malcolm Fraser, did.” The Fulchers admire the work of HSSCG and wanted the Golf Classic to be a celebration of people having a fantastic time on the golf course and putting their money to task for animals in need.
HSSCG Executive Director, Virginia Schlegel, says, “We all work so diligently to shelter, care for, and feed hundreds of animals each year. It’s a huge financial commitment that has to be met and reinvigorated again and again. Monthly expenses can run as high as $60,000 a month. Without the generosity of our supporters and heroes like Joe and Jane, our work could not happen.” Last year the golfers who participated in the “Fore the Animals” Golf Classic raised over $80,000 for homeless animals. HSSCG is confident that people from the Golden Isles area and beyond will rally together to amass $100,000 this year, and capture the matching gift for HSSCG.
But it’s not ALL about the animals, there’s the joy of the sport too. The night before the tournament, an exclusive cocktail party for golfers, spouses, and sponsors will be held at the Ocean Forest home of Taylor and Deidra Smith. Tee off will take place at 9:00 a.m., after a light breakfast. The award ceremony will follow a buffet lunch. This year’s highest fundraiser will receive the Top Dog Award and complimentary lodging for a week in Cabo San Lucas, generously donated by Bob Thompson, Jr. Early registration is recommended. www.HSSCG.org. For more information about the Malcolm Fraser Foundation and the inspired charity of Joe and Jane Fulcher, visit www.stutteringhelp.org.
