By Paula Anderson
The Jackson Madison County African American Chamber (JMCAAC) is hosting its annual Celebrity Golf Classic fundraiser to benefit the Follow Me into Business ® Youth Program.
Celebrity golfers and business leaders will have a friendly game of golf and exchange business ideas to raise money for a worthy cause.
The youth program is held during the months of June and July. Students work with a program coordinator and business leaders in the Jackson Madison County area.
"At the 11th annual Celebrity Golf Classic sponsored by the Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce ("JMCAACC"), our celebrity golfers will be Ed "Too Tall" Jones, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys; Karl Powe, also formerly with the Dallas Cowboys; Derrick Burroughs, athletic director at Lane College; Andre Turner, head basketball coach at Lane College and AJ Merriweather, formerly of the Harlem Globetrotters,” said Don McCorry, interim executive director of JMCAAC.
“This fundraising event supports the Follow Me into Business and STEM programs of the JMCAACC which provides work and leadership skills, internships and summer jobs to our youth in Jackson and Madison County, while promoting entrepreneurship. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at the Bent Tree Golf Course located at 2993 Paul Coffman Drive here in Jackson. Registration starts at 7:00 with tee off at 8:30 a.m.," added McCorry.
Dexter Davis, professor at University of Tennessee Martin and co-chair of the Celebrity Golf Classic said, “I got involved about six years ago, when I was asked to provide student volunteers to assist with running the tournament. At that time, it was an awesome opportunity for my students. Over time, that ‘relationship’ evolved into my role now as one of the co-chairs of the event. I love the ‘mission’ of the tournament…raising money for mentorship programs for the young men and women of Jackson. And it provides an opportunity for my students to see that I actually believe in the importance of practical experience and that mentor-mentee relationship. This is a great opportunity to combine academic class with practical experience, all while giving back to the larger community.”
To register for the Celebrity Golf Classic, visit www.jmccacc.org or send an email to jacksonmcaacc@gmail.com.
Paula Anderson is a professional journalist and founder of Writing by Design Media, Inc. She can be reached at editor@wbdmedia.com.