Many years ago, the spark for the Golf Fore Kids program was ignited in the heart of a young boy who witnessed something that would stay with him for life — his friend not receiving a gift at Christmas. That boy, who wishes to remain anonymous, is now a man, and from that moment forward he made a quiet promise: one day, he would give back.
Believing he had been blessed with many gifts in life, he decided that every child deserved to experience the joy of receiving a gift at Christmas. From that promise, Golf Fore Kids was born.
Now celebrating 21 years of giving, Golf Fore Kids was inducted this year into the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame, recognizing decades of extraordinary service and unwavering support for hundreds of children each year.
Golf Fore Kids celebrating 21 years of giving back to the community and thousands of dollars’ worth of toys and community-donated raffle prizes.
PHOTO BY DENISE HOUSTON / The Progress
This year’s Golf Fore Kids tournament took place on Thursday, Dec. 11, in Mesquite. An incredible 570 golfers registered and arrived to support children from Mesquite, Bunkerville, Scenic, Beaver Dam, Littlefield and the Moapa area.
The entry fee for the four-player scramble tournament was simple yet powerful: one new, unwrapped gift valued at $75. Golfers dropped off their gifts at a designated trailer, where Mesquite police officers and dedicated volunteers greeted them, expressed appreciation and carefully loaded the donations. Additional volunteers assisted at registration, offering raffle tickets and collecting gift cards that would later be used to purchase even more gifts for local children.
Four golf courses — Conestoga, Falcon Ridge, Palmer, and Palms — were generously donated for the event. The awards ceremony, luncheon and toy display were hosted at the Holiday Inn Barn, which quickly transformed into a hub of generosity and community spirit, with the CasaBlanca and Eureka donating the tables and chairs and Alsco Linens donating the tablecloths. The facility was donated by the Holiday Inn.
All collected toys and gift card donations were transported to the barn from the golf courses. The donations were unloaded through an impressive assembly line of police officers, firefighters, volunteers and students from Virgin Valley High School Interact. Fourteen students volunteered their time to unload trucks, set up luncheon tables, sort toys and raffle prizes, reload trucks and help with event teardown. Some students took part in shopping, with donated gift cards, further increasing the number of toys available for distribution.
By day’s end, the barn was filled with more than 100 bikes and scooters, thousands of dollars’ worth of toys and an abundance of community-donated raffle prizes. These included tools, Vegas Golden Knights tickets, golf packages from Coyote Springs, dining gift cards from Gregory’s, Tag N Go car washes, large-screen televisions, grills and more.
The overwhelming support and participation from the community once again made this tournament a resounding success, ensuring hundreds of local children will experience a Christmas filled with joy.
“I was once a recipient of this, and it is really humbling for me to give back,” said Karen Fielding, a 14-year organizer of Golf Fore Kids.
The event is a full-day production that reflects months of dedication and collaboration, all centered around helping children. Heartfelt appreciation goes out to the volunteers, sponsors, golfers and community members who make this remarkable event possible year after year.
The toys collected will be distributed through the Salvation Army Angel Tree, Mesquite Fire Department, Mesquite Police Department and local schools, ensuring they reach children most in need.
“The Salvation Army is truly grateful for Golf Fore Kids and everyone involved with this event. Without the golfers, we would not be able to serve all 570 children in Mesquite and surrounding areas. Thank you,” said service center coordinator Anthony Rivera.
