The Inaugural, Million Dollar Year for Fighting Kids Cancer in Southwest Virginia. The 2023 Charlotte’s Play Yellow Invitational

When Co-Founders Jessica & Kelly Woolwine launched the Fighting Kids Cancer (FKC) campaign in January 2023, they took on the biggest commitment they, or The Life Ring Foundation, had ever undertaken. However, in their minds, there was no other choice but to tackle this huge goal head on and figure it out every step of the way for the FKC mission. The FKC mission being to bring the best and most advanced resources to the fight against pediatric cancer & blood disorders to the Roanoke Valley.

“When your child gets diagnosed with cancer, and my husband has said this many times, it almost feels like you have died and gone to hell when you get that information. But the way I have always tried to look at it is, I think that everything happens for a reason… and I think that life is full of miracles, and Charlotte (Woolwine) is a miracle. And I think that we were chosen for this journey so that we could do this. Because somebody needed to do it and we can – so we are going to.”  – Co-Founder Life Ring Foundation, Jessica Woolwine.

After preliminary discussions and deciding a golf weekend takeover event at The Dormie Network’s Ballyhack Golf Club was the right first step, they quickly realized critical key factors were needed to be successful. One being to recruit a team of volunteers to build a pipeline of sponsors and donors, as well as help plan and execute the event – hence the Fighting Kids Cancer Committee was born (names & picture listed below). As any nonprofit would agree, volunteer leadership from the community is a vital ingredient to success – and the Fighting Kids Cancer Committee proved just that! The group of volunteers on the FKC Committee truly is one of a kind. Without their countless hours of time, talents, and efforts put into the inaugural 2023 event, there is no doubt it would not have been nearly as successful as it was!

The next realization that quickly came into view was how to capitalize on fundraising potential. The answer to that was two-fold. One being to offer significant sponsor levels that included benefits and amenities donors would see value in the substantial cost. The second was to achieve long-term impact and returning support year over year. Charlotte’s Play Yellow Invitational would need to be unlike no other that Roanoke Valley has seen or experienced before.

By establishing a weekend takeover itinerary, unmatched golf, hospitality, food & beverage, and player gifts – alongside special celebrity guest appearances and mingling – this mission was accomplished. A special thanks in large part to the FKC Committee and Kelli Davis at Children’s Miracle Network. Their help filled the 2023 Charlotte’s Play Yellow Invitational with celebrities. These special guests not only brought their name and influence to elevate the event, but they also genuinely supported the mission, allowing Life Ring to capture content and share on social media. They continue to advocate and support The Life Ring Foundation outside of the event to this day.

The weekend event kicked off Friday with a “Goat Track” tournament, followed by the main program. This program included an overview of the Fighting Kids Cancer campaign goal, live & silent auctions, paddle raise donation moment, and live entertainment by Pat McGee Band. All teams and additional sponsors attended, reaching around 215 guests. Saturday featured an 18-hole tournament followed by awards (including a Hole in One winner on Par 4!) & a second evening of entertainment by the band YARN.

The main event was concluded by a surprise late night element. Karaoke hosted by “the Rocket” Roger Clemens himself on the patio of Ballyhack Golf Club. No one could have predicted or expected that the “Rocket” would transform into “DJ No Request”, bringing his own laptop, and hosting a one-of-a-kind karaoke session that guests would never be able to forget!

When trying to set expectations for a fundraising goal and the event overall, Kelly & Jessica – as well as the Fighting Kids Cancer Committee- really could not have even begun to imagine what transpired. First, the support of sponsors, at the highest price tag the Roanoke Valley has seen for a golf tournament, was truly inspirational. It really proved the Roanoke Valley Community can move mountains!

Sponsorship commitments followed by the extreme success of the live & silent auction and paddle raise moment in the program, truly came as a shock to all (even the bidders themselves!). The generosity of the auction donors provided exclusive packages and experiences that bidders could not resist! More importantly, after hearing the program’s moving mission moment led by Kelly Woolwine, who shared their personal testimony and journey with Charlotte’s diagnosis and the need for pediatric resources in Southwest Virginia, the community’s generosity came out ten-fold.

After the auction closed Saturday, the Committee gathered for a calculation of fundraising totals. The group quicky realized the one-million-dollar mark was in sight. Although they were extremely proud of what they had accomplished thus far (and honestly couldn’t grasp even the numbers right in front of them), they couldn’t settle knowing how close they were to the one-million-dollar milestone. So, they sought out to accomplish that milestone with just a couple hours left of the event.

After a discussion with a few key donors who generously agreed to increase their committed gifts, THE ONE-MILLION-DOLLAR MILESTONE WAS CROSSED!

Towards the end of the event late Saturday evening, a gathering assembled in the Owner’s Cottage at Ballyhack to raise a toast and celebrate. Before the official toast was made, Jessica Woolwine paused and looked around at the group, having a light bulb moment.

“Charlotte’s type of cancer is so rare, that Kelly & I were told we had about a one in one million chance of being diagnosed with it. Little did we know what a bleak diagnosis & prognosis would have led to where we are right now … We just raised one million dollars in our first major fundraising event… how fitting for the one in a million girl who inspired this whole thing…” – Mother of Charlotte Woolwine & Co-Founder of The Life Ring Foundation, Jessica Woolwine