Pro golfer, Akron native Harold Varner III launches Youth United with local United Way

A couple of kids from Akron, an Eastern Carolina connection and a chance meeting during a round of golf is giving some Akron Public Schools students additional resources for guidance and social capital.

Harold Varner III, a professional golfer who was born in Akron and recently left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf and won his first event last weekend, spent part of that celebration (and a $4 million payday) flying to Akron to attend the annual United Way of Summit & Medina's Bold Glow event, which included nighttime golf, other outdoor games, food and drinks, at Good Park Golf Course.

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Proceeds from the event will support United Way's Bold Goal 2 — to boost high school graduation rates, college/career readiness and access to employment or extracurricular actives among Akron Public School students.

"We are thrilled to have Harold Varner III as a partner in our work,” said Jim Mullen, president and CEO of United Way of Summit & Medina. "I’d also like to thank our Bold Glow sponsors and the City of Akron for making this event possible. The funds we raise will help us prepare the young people in our community to live healthy lives and build successful careers."

Not too long ago, Varner was golfing with a donor connected with Eastern Carolina University, where he played the sport in college. In that group was Steve Wilt, who mentioned he was from Akron. Wilt and Varner got to talking about their Akron connection, and the local chapter of the United Way eventually became involved.

Partially as a result of that connection on the golf course, Varner and his HV3 Foundation partnered with the United Way of Summit & Medina to launch Youth United, a development and leadership program. The Youth United program connects young people with adults who can provide guidance and advice with school, possible employment and a number of facets of life.

"When we were leaving and shaking hands, [Varner] said, 'Man, if I can come to Akron and do some good, let me know,'" Wilt said. "And it was just so impactful that he said that and meant it. And then the week of the Jayland Walker shooting, I texted him and said, 'We need some good here, an infusion of good.' And he responded right away."

Youth United seeks to connect students with "success coaches" (meaning the adults) in a one-on-one fashion to offer as much guidance as possible. The aim is to also find success coaches who are in the same employment field that the student may want to enter at some point.

In that way, the program isn't really about golf. The aspect of golf is only the conduit through which social connections are made, the type that might not have been possible for these students without Youth United.

Many of the success coaches and students are recommended to the program via partnerships with different nonprofits around Akron, as well as family resource centers and the public school systems, as noted by Andrew Leask, associate vice president of marketing and brand management for United Way Summit & Medina. There have also been cases in which conversations with the adults in a family, perhaps about financial guidance, eventually has led to the kids becoming involved in the programs.

Varner, speaking Friday just before the event, noted he had a number of mentors who helped him when he was younger. Those social connections and guidance are at the heart of Youth United.

"I've had so many people in my life just invest their time," Varner said. "It's in a place where most of my family is, this is where I was born, so it's really cool. … You need those people because they protect you in some kind of way to keep you on the straight and narrow.

"I had people that were very influential in the community making sure that I had the best chance to do whatever I wanted to in life. And I think every kid should have that. They always say it takes a village to raise a kid, and it's a product of that."

Varner repeatedly said he doesn't want the program to be centered around him, but that he knows he needs to use his platform to get it started. Mullen later interjected, calling Varner "modest" and noting the Northeast Ohio native has played a key role in implementing the program in Charlotte and Charleston in the Carolinas (closer to where Varner currently lives), and now Akron.

"He's one of the most authentic people I've ever met in my life," Mullen said. "So from the first day we met Harold, and with the program, it feels like we're part of this family, which I think is something we look for. We want to partner with somebody that's going to understand the fabric of who we are."

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.