PADUCAH, Ky. (KT) — A charity golf scramble to benefit Sunrise Children’s Services Thursday not only raised money for the organization, but also demonstrated golfers’ support for the nonprofit organization that provides care and hope for hurting families and children through Christ-centered ministries.
Dale Suttles, president of Sunrise, was on hand for the event that drew more than 100 golfers to the Country Club of Paducah. Suttles was there to help increase awareness of Sunrise’s mission.
“It’s just not right in America that we’ve got kids sleeping in offices,” he said in explaining how Sunrise has a goal of connecting children in need with foster families and adoptive parents while providing support throughout the process.
“We will probably clear around $20,000 (from the scramble),” Suttles said, “but the biggest positive from the event was the turnout after a COVID hiatus and the overwhelming show of support from the golfers toward Sunrise. Many of the golfers took the time to tell us what it meant for them to support a faith-based organization like Sunrise, and they appreciated the great work with the children.”
In applauding the turnout at the tournament, Suttles said “it means a lot when you have an event like this. Enthusiasm has been awesome — we are blessed to be here.” Suttles used the occasion to talk about the need for more foster homes, mentioning that children “are sleeping in state park offices and DCBS (Department of Community Based Services) offices.”
The funds generated by the golf scramble will help provide resources for Sunrise to expand its services. He expressed the need for more foster families to step up to meet an ever-growing need.
“If you know of someone who possibly could become a foster parent, can we just have that conversation?” Suttles said. “We are in crisis to find homes. We are all entitled to prosper. We are all entitled to have second chances. We've got to find homes. It's just not right in America that we've got kids sleeping in offices.”
Sunrise provides a home for children who have been abused and neglected, and whose lives have been scarred by unspeakable physical, sexual and emotional abuse resulting in those children being removed from their homes. Sunrise’s goal is to provide refuge, hope, love and healing to children whose lives have been devastated, according to the Sunrise website.
WPSD-TV contributed to this report.