Olive Crest Golf Invitational Fundraiser

Press release from Olive Crest:

By Madeline Zuckerman

March 4 2021

Olive Crest, known for its dedication to preventing child abuse, to treating and educating at-risk children and to preserving the family . . .“One Life at a time®,” hosted its Golf Invitational at the Indian Wells Golf Resort in Indian Wells, California. This event raised much-needed funds to benefit local at-risk children and their families in both Riverside County and the Coachella Valley.

Darnell Bing, a Jim Thorpe Award Finalist, All-Pac 10 Safety, and two-time National Champion at USC, served as Event Chair, with fellow USC teammate, Oscar Lua, stepping up to be Event Sponsor.

“Today was all about giving back to the community,” stated Oscar Lua, Event Sponsor. “I think Olive Crest provides a bridge for people and gives them opportunities they may or may not have. The fact that Olive Crest is helping over 2,100 children and families in Riverside County every year is amazing.”

With an impressive field of twenty foursomes and sponsors, this year's inaugural event raised over $50,000 to support Olive Crest’s vital programs and services.

“My wife Rachal and I love to give back, and we believe in the amazing work Olive Crest is doing with at-risk children and their families,” stated Darnell Bing, Event Chair. “The event allowed us to form new relationships with people who otherwise would not be aware of Olive Crest and the work they are doing in the community. It also allowed us to spread Olive Crest’s message to a larger population, in order to make a greater impact in the community and in the lives of today's youth and their families,” Bing continued.

Event registration began at 7:45 AM, and featured breakfast, lunch, a shotgun “shamble” format, in addition to an awards reception and silent auction. Event Sponsors included Toyota of Riverside, System GO IT, Pacific Building Tech, Rapport International Furniture, Statewide Services, Inc., Vendor Direct Solutions, Realty Advisory Group, Dutton Cadillac, and The Brokerage Commercial Insurance Services.

“The idea for this Olive Crest Golf Invitational was the brainchild of one of our newest Olive Crest Trustees, Darnell Bing,” stated Walter Mueller, Director of Development for Olive Crest. “Darnell had envisioned this event as a way to not only raise funds for our organization, but to also bring visibility to the services and life-saving programs Olive Crest offers. Darnell wanted to reach out and include some of his former USC teammates, as a way to introduce and educate them to the needs of youth within the foster care system. Having Darnell and Oscar participate with their former teammates made this event a success and a win-win for all the at-risk children in our community,” Mueller continued.
Seen in The Crowd
USC Football Legends participating in this fun day of golf included Darnell Bing, Oscar Lua, Will Poole, Frostee Rucker, Shaun Cody, Tom Malone, Jonathan Lockett, Collin Ashton, Justin Wyatt, John Walker, Brandon Hancock, James Abbott, and Sunny Byrd. Also seen in the crowd were George & Nancy DeVries, Peter Skaaning, Jules Buenabenta, Christopher Hodson, Matt Irving, Chris Harns, Woody Dutton, and Marshall Gordon.

“The monies raised today will be utilized to support expanding services within both the Coachella Valley and throughout Riverside County,” stated Tracy Fitzsimmons, Executive Director of Olive Crest Inland and Desert Communities. “Through the recent pandemic and extended quarantine, our communities have seen a troubling rise in food scarcity, domestic violence, unemployment, and need for mental health services. Olive Crest provides support in all of these areas. In 2021, our organization is anticipating a 10 to 15% increase in demand for services just in the Coachella Valley alone! These are challenging times for us all, and most significantly, for our community’s youth. Last year, our donors generously helped Olive Crest provide the miracle of a safe and loving home to more than 12,000 children. While we celebrate that progress, here is what you need to know. For every child we place in a safe and loving home, nine children are still waiting! While they wait, some go back on the street. Some go to a shelter. All face a life of uncertainty and fear in the face of abuse and neglect. A safe home, along with a loving family home, is precisely what breaks the cycle of hopelessness in children's lives,” Fitzsimmons continued.

This press release was produced by Olive Crest. The views expressed here are the author’s own