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GOLF: PGA TOUR: David Toms Foundation to award grants to three Shreveport charities

/noticias.info/ Special to PGATOUR.com

The David Toms Foundation announced Wednesday that it will award grants to three Shreveport charitable organizations. The Providence House, Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal and the Lighthouse program of Volunteers of America each received $100,000 for targeted programs that help underprivileged children.

“While there is certainly a lot of need in this area, we are fortunate to have great organizations doing incredible work for underprivileged children,” Toms said. “Each of these charities is viewed with great respect in our community. We have confidence that these dollars will be helping children in need.”

Simone Hennessee, executive director for the Providence House, said she is thrilled with thegift for the Child Development Center, which allows homeless pre-school children to attend childcare.

“Children are the future, but they need wings to fly,” Hennessee said. “The David Toms Foundation gift is providing the wings for homeless preschool children to learn how to fly through the Providence House Child Development Center where these little ones are educated, nurtured and loved while their parents either further their education or seek employment to better their economic situation to become independent.”

The donation to Shreveport Bossier Community Renewal will go toward construction of a new Friendship House in the Barksdale Annex neighborhood of Bossier City. A Community Renewal Friendship House is a haven of hope in low-income, high-crime neighborhoods. Like a community center in a home, a Friendship House is a place for after-school education programs, character building, service projects, GED courses, tutoring, computer training, art and music lessons, family nights and much more.

“The generosity of David and Sonya Toms and their true spirit to serve the children of our city and state is an example for every one of us,” said Mack McCarter, founder and coordinator of Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal. “It helps us to remember we are here for the children. The Friendship House that David and Sonya are building with the David Toms Building Team will be a gateway for children to have dreams and hopes and a life filled with endless possibilities.”

The house will be lived in by the family of a Community Coordinator employed by SBCR, who not only help the neighborhood – they become a part of it. This will be the ninth SBCR Friendship House.

Chuck Meehan, Volunteers of America President and Chief Executive Officer said the timing of this gift is fantastic.

“Volunteers of America feels so fortunate to receive the generous support of the David Toms Foundation,” Meehan said. “This announcement of their incredible gift will allow us to shape and transform the lives of hundreds of deserving underprivileged children in need of our LightHouse Services. On behalf of the children and their families we express our sincere thanks."

The LightHouse program tutors children in a very effective and efficient after school program.

Since its inception in 2003, the Foundation has given over $2.8 million in grants to deserving charities.

Toms, a 12-time winner on the PGA TOUR, recently finished another successful season. In addition to winning the Sony Open in Hawaii, Toms finished 11th on the money list and represented the United States in the Ryder Cup. He begins the 2007 season the first week in January where he will compete in the Mercedes Championship in Maui. notas_de_prensa_archivo