Community

In 2000 Affinity launched an initiative to raise money for the University of Virginia Children’s Medical Center (CMC) following their heroic and successful efforts to save the life of a very dear friend of our Company: Zach Conner. Born in 1996 with an undetected hole in his heart, Zach’s life changed abruptly when, at eighteen months, he was rushed to the hospital where he stayed for six weeks and needed to be resuscitated more times than his parents care to remember. Zach has since had further surgery to repair his heart and is a spirited survivor of a harrowing ordeal.

Zach is but one of the many children that the CMC touches each year, and he is the one that opened Affinity’s eyes to this amazing resource in our community, a resource that needs your support so it will be there for the Zach’s to come.

Since 2000 Affinity has helped raise nearly $125,000 through coordination of two annual golf tournaments: the Mac McDonald Invitation and the Children’s Golf Classic.

If you wish to volunteer, become a sponsor or make a donation of either money, prizes or auction items to either tournament please contact dd@affinitymanagement.com.


Mac McDonald Invitational

Made possible by Presenting Sponsor ACAC and Host Sponsor Keswick Club the “Mac” is a WINA Community Event with generous support by locally owned and operated Eure Communications.

This event has grown from a modest attempt to give back to the University of Virginia Children’s Medical Center (CMC) into the Charlottesville area’s pre-eminent charitable golf event, and has raised over $70,000 in two years in addition to attracting celebrity participation including:
  • Jay Bilas ESPN Basketball Analyst
     
  • Gene Corrigan Former ACC Commissioner
     
  • Bobby Cremins Legendary basketball coach of Georgia tech and South Carolina
     
  • Pete Gillen UVA Men’s Basketball Coach
     
  • Bob Rotella Renowned sports psychologist to Davis Love III, US Ryder Cup Captain Hal Sutton, the frequent World Champion new York Yankees and author of books including “Golf is Not a game of Perfect”
     
  • Debbie Ryan UVA Woman’s Basketball Coach
     
  • Jamie Sharper Formerly of the World Champion Baltimore Ravens and now with the Houston Texans; and
     
  • John Grisham has donated naming rights for a character in his next book as an auction item for 2003

Commenting on Affinity’s role, Brad Eure, President of Eure Communications notes, “Damon brings an unbelievable amount of passion and marketing savvy to this event to make it not only a successful fundraiser, but also by far the highest quality golf event in this area.” Tourney namesake and Voice of the University of Virginia Cavaliers adds, “Affinity is very creative and fun to work with. Corralling celebrities can be a real challenge, and they are a huge asset by taking things in stride and coming up with huge saves. In 2002 rain forced us to reschedule twice and somehow Affinity communicated with participants and reshuffled all the details including finding a large cart rental fleet on very short notice at a reasonable rate.”

The next Mac McDonald Invitational is scheduled for Monday April 21, 2003 at 1pm at Keswick Club. The price for a team of four (to be paired with a celebrity to play as the 5th) is $1,200, which includes welcome gifts, prizes and dinner immediately following at the club. If you wish to volunteer, become a sponsor or make a donation of either money, prizes or auction items to the tournament please contact dd@affinitymanagement.com.

Children’s Golf Classic

Sponsored by the Virginia Oil Company, Central Coca Cola and Clear Channel Radio, the Children’s Golf Classic was launched in 2000 and has raised over $50,000 for the University of Virginia Children’s Medical Center (CMC).

Of Affinity’s contribution, Virginia Oil Company’s COO Jim Miller states, “Prior to Affinity’s involvement we had rescheduled twice, but once they came on board this became the easiest fundraiser we’ve ever done.”

Since 2000 the tournament as raised over $55,000 for the CMC. The next Children’s Golf Classic is scheduled for Monday October 6, 2003. If you wish to volunteer, become a sponsor or make a donation of either money, prizes or auction items to the tournament please contact dd@affinitymanagement.com.