Flood Relief Generosity: University Park Country Club member donations surpass $40K to assist flood victims

Photo Caption: University Park Country Club General Manager, Laurie Evans (center), assists staff members in organizing the furniture and household good donations that helped recent flood victims to replacing lost or damaged items.

University Park Country Club members went above and beyond to assist recent flood victims, donating more than $27,000 in cash and gift cards as well as enough furniture and household goods to fill a 15-foot U-Haul truck seven times and the University Park Country Club administration office four times. Total cash, gift card and in-kind donations are estimated to exceed over $40,000.

The flood relief initiative started when University Park Country Club General Manager Laurie Evans learned that two employees lost everything in one of the hardest hit areas from Hurricane Hermine. To assist them, Evans reached out to University Park Country Club members and residents to donate any extra furniture and household items to help replace what was lost. The donations and generosity far exceeded what was expected or needed and to honor the members’ generosity, University Park Country Club partners and Evans decided to establish a University Park Country Club Employee Emergency Relief Fund with the extra remaining cash donations. Nearly $10,000 has now been set aside in the fund to assist other employees in the future who find themselves in financial need or crisis.

“I know from talking to many members and our employees that this has been an incredible experience and one that has brought all of us together working toward a common goal,” said Evans. “The comment I have heard most often from members is how fortunate they feel to live in such an amazing and generous community. I can echo that sentiment for myself, the partners and our employees, all of whom have shared that sense of good fortune, including being able to serve such a generous and compassionate group of members,” Evans added.

About University Park Country Club

Located at 7671 The Park Boulevard in University Park, Fla., University Park Country Club is open to the public for daily golf play, as well as daily lunch and Sunday Brunch at the Park Grille & Café. Consistently honored with numerous “Best of Sarasota” awards from Sarasota Magazine and the Herald-Tribune, including Best Place to Play Golf and Tennis, Dining with a View, and Best Sunday Brunch, the Golf Digest 4-Star rated club’s Golf Academy provides hourly, single an multi-day clinics and social events for men and women, a Junior Golf Academy program and flexible options for seasonal and summer golf memberships, tournaments, and social functions for up to 200 people. For more information, visit www.universitypark-fl.com or call 941-359-9999.