by Gene Marrano
A local financial advisement firm is teaming up with a non-profit that focuses on the health of pregnant women to launch a golf tournament fundraiser. The Beacon Wealth Charity Golf Classic on Friday, May 11 at Roanoke Country Club features a 1pm shotgun start.
Teams of four can tee off for $450, while individuals that will be paired with others can play for $125. It’s a Captain’s Choice tournament and lunch will be provided at 11am. Afterwards there is a barbecue dinner as well. There are also sponsorship packages for those that may not want to play golf but can sponsor a hole or contests (putting, hole in one, etc.) that will be offered that day.
Phil Holsinger, the CEO for the Blue Ridge Women’s Center (located at 5034 Williamson Road), said the BRWC, which used to be known as the Crisis Pregnancy Center of the Roanoke Valley, has served low-income women and others for almost 30 years. The term “crisis” in relationship to many pregnancies had become an outdated one said Holsinger, hence the name change about a decade ago.
Many of the women are from 17-30 years old; a “significant number” are college age or are older women struggling to make ends meet after they or their husband have lost a job – and now an unexpected baby is on the way. Others are women in their 40’s facing an unexpected pregnancy late in life. “We’ve served over 15,000 women in the last 28 years and covered a pretty wide spectrum of circumstances,” said Holsinger.
The BRWC is funded entirely by private donations and does not receive any federal funding. That’s why Holsinger is hoping the May 11 golf tourney is a big success and becomes an annual event. The center features counselors and a medical staff that oversees daily operations, like the ultrasounds offered to pregnant women and testing for sexually transmitted diseases.
Holsinger estimates that the Blue Ridge Women’s Center serves 800-1000 clients per year, who often comes in 6-7 times during the course of a pregnancy. They may return for parenting and life skill classes as well. There’s a boutique on site that can provide diapers and maternity clothes. The Beacon Wealth Charity Golf Classic will help fund all of those services. “Its always [nice] to have an organization like what we do,” said Holsinger, “and watch us build over the course of years.”
Rick Laymon, the CEO for Roanoke-based Beacon Wealth, first encountered the BRWC about ten years ago when it began managing the organization’s small endowment fund. “Over the course of time I’ve learned a whole lot more about what they do and grown to appreciate and recognize how vital that ministry is in the life of our community.”
Laymon said Beacon Wealth, which has nine offices in five states, focuses on advising Christian families and organizations about their planning and asset management needs.
The 14-year-old firm provides what Laymon terms as “Biblically responsible investing platforms, which is a very unique offering in the investment advisory world.” There are still “loads of wonderful companies” out there to invest in said Laymon.
Beacon Wealth does not deal with any companies that are involved with abortions, pornography or “radical proponents of the homosexual agenda,” according to Laymon. The Blue Ridge Women’s Center does advise pregnant women that abortion is an option, according to Holsinger, but its primary focus is to “provide a whole spectrum of information,” and help a woman through her pregnancy, delivering a health baby as part of the process. “It lets someone look at the options before her,” said Holsinger, noting that giving a child up for adoption has been another option for some clients.
Both hope that the golf tournament becomes a regular event for local duffers. “We’re looking for a great turnout and hope to have at least 72 golfers,” said Laymon. See beaconwealth.com or supportblueridge.org for more information on the Beacon Wealth Charity Golf Classic and the Blue Ridge Women’s Center. The contact at Beacon Wealth about the golf tourney is Matt Reeve (345-3891).