Austin-area golfers raise money for
abused, neglected children and special needs adoption
September 28, 2005

Austin - Austin - Central Texas golfers raised nearly $55,000 for the treatment and care of abused and neglected children and special needs adoption at the Tomorrow’s Child Golf Benefit on Sept. 26.

More than 90 golfers participated in the benefit at the Avery Ranch Golf Club in Austin, raising pledges and donations to benefit New Life Children’s Center at Canyon Lake and Lutheran Social Services’ special needs adoption programs.

A ministry of LSS, New Life is a 24-hour residential care facility for girls ages 11 to 17 who suffer from emotional and behavioral problems, usually the result of past abuse and neglect. Residents of New Life enjoy a safe place to live, individual and group therapy, recreation, spiritual care and on-campus educational services.

The girls of New Life showed their appreciation by creating personalized artwork for committee members to take home. Three of the girls were able to attend the event to share their stories with the golfers and express their gratitude in person. The young attendees had the opportunity to practice their putting and participate in the awards ceremony.

“Everyone was watching us and listening to us,” said 12-year-old Amy, the youngest New Life resident to attend the golf tournament. “It was like everyone there came just for us ... like we were famous!”

The tournament also benefited LSS special needs adoption programs in Central Texas. Special needs children have conditions ranging from autism and mental retardation to cerebral palsy and cancer. There is a great need for foster parents and forever families for these children.

Golfers Clifford Miller, Sid Stuewe and Lyle Killey were honored for raising the most money and rewarded with golf packages to some of Central Texas’ best courses.

Thanks to the generous support of sponsors, all monies raised went directly to the programs.
The next Tomorrow’s Child golf benefit is Oct. 10 at Oakmont Country Club in Corinth, Texas, near Dallas, benefiting Nelson Children’s Center. For more information, click here or call (800) 938-5777.

With four residential treatment centers serving more than 200 children and an award-winning foster care program that has more than 1,300 children, LSS is among the largest providers of residential services to abused and neglected children in Texas.

Lutheran Social Services is the social service arm of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LSS and its affiliated ministries annually serve more than 23,000 children, elderly and poor in Texas and Louisiana regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender or age. Its ministries includes children’s residential treatment centers, therapeutic foster care, adoption, emergency assistance, health care and retirement centers, disaster response and emergency assistance.