A native of Little Rock, Hayden Blair knew he wanted to be a part of a worthy community organization building toward the future, and he found that in the Rotaract Club. “As soon as I went and was able to meet some of the members, I knew I had found a place to call home,” he says. “Our group is very welcoming to everyone who has a heart for making Little Rock a better place.” Blair — a financial advisor with Matlock & Associates and a graduate of Little Rock Central High and Southern Methodist University — has been with the Rotaract Club for two years now. He believes it to be the perfect outlet for people his age to interact with like-minded professionals, and work to improve the world around us. One of the benefits the local Rotaract Club is involved in is its annual golf tournament, which benefits PARK (Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids). Below, Blair shares more about the upcoming tournament.
Soirée: What do we really need to know about the Rotaract Club of Little Rock?
Hayden Blair: With the help of Club 99, we were founded in July 2011 as a group for dedicated young professionals interested in making a philanthropic difference in their community. We have over 50 members throughout central Arkansas and are growing each and every year. Our members are typically in their mid-20s to mid-30s, and come from all walks of life.
Tell us about Rotaract’s upcoming golf tournament.
This will be the second annual Rotaract Golf Classic benefitting PARK. We formed the partnership with PARK last year and after all of the excitement over our initial success, we knew we had found a great match. Keith Jackson is such a wonderful supporter of the event and his help has been vital.
What does the golf tournament do for the community?
Because I’m a golfer, I’m fairly biased, but I believe that a golf tournament is the perfect outlet for raising money for PARK. Students at PARK enter the program in the eighth grade, and PARK makes a five-year commitment to the students to help ensure graduation from high school, as well as individual growth. As a supporter of the tournament, sponsors and players are able to give vital support to a worthy cause. We have many different sponsorship levels that coincide with actual costs related to keeping PARK running. It takes $4,000 per year just to support one PARK student, and right now, they are limited in the students they are able to take on because of the tremendous level of individual attention paid to each and every student. We are looking for sponsors who are committed to forming a long-term relationship with this event, and who are willing to grow with us as we are able to do more and more to support PARK.
What are the sponsorship levels? Any awards or prizes for the tournament?
Sponsorship opportunities are $350 for a hole sponsor, $1,000 for a silver sponsor, $2,000 for a gold sponsor and $4,000 for a tournament level sponsor, which comes with the largest recognition on all tournament materials. As far as prizes, we are expecting four flights of teams with prizes for top teams in each flight. There will also be a prize for the overall winning team and a number of raffle prizes. Raffle tickets and mulligans will be available at sign-in. Last year, we gave away a Rocketballz Stage 2 Driver, a Callaway X Hot 3-wood and an Odyssey putter, among other items. The tournament itself is a four-person scramble. Lunch is complimentary for all players.
Rotaract Golf Classic benefiting P.A.R.K.
When: Shotgun start at 8 a.m., Monday, July 14
Where: Rebsamen Golf Course
Price $500 for four-person scramble team
Info: Hayden Blair at 766-2248 or Jessie Wilson at 786-0356 or email RotaractLittleRock@Gmail.com