The fifth annual Arby's Charity Tour golf tournament recently took place in Edgewater, Maryland, raising more than $51,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maryland. Pictured from left to right: Melonie Sherman BBBS Southern MD, Reid Neumann Arby's Restaurant Group, Wade Kingsley President KBK, Inc., Tawanda Jones BBBS Southern MD, and Jason Thompson BBBS Southern MD Board Member.
CHARLOTTE HALL, Md. - KBK, Inc., Arby's franchisee headquartered in Charlotte Hall, in partnership with the Arby's Foundation, announced its fifth annual Arby's Charity Tour golf tournament raised more than $51,500 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maryland (BBS-SM). More than 100 participants took part in this year's event at the Atlantic Golf at South River in Edgewater, Maryland, to help raise awareness and funds for local youth. All proceeds from this event help create one-on-one mentoring opportunities for children and their positive role models in the Tri-County community through the BBS-SM program.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maryland develops mentors committed to helping boys and girls grow into the "next generation of caring, confident and competent adults." Their vision is to bring successful mentoring relationships for all children who need or want them, contributing to better schools, brighter futures and stronger communities. The organization cites studies which have shown that youth involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program are 46 percent less likely to use illegal drugs and 52 percent less likely to skip school.
"We are so grateful for the Arby's Foundation and all of our generous participants in this great cause," said Melonie Dalson, executive director of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maryland. "Funds collected through the annual golf tournament have a significant impact on our overall annual budget, allowing us to serve many youths through the provision of their very own big brother or big sister."
The estimated cost for each match is $1,000, and the program relies on businesses and organizations to partner with them to create even more matches.
Arby's Charity Tour has helped raise more than $361,500 since 2003, when local Arby's franchisee, Wade Kingsely of KBK, Inc., encouraged Arby's to put Southern Maryland on the Charity Tour's annual roster.
"We would like to thank everyone who came out this year to help make the fifth annual event such a huge success," said Wade Kingsley, co-chair and host of Arby's Charity Tour and president of KBK, Inc. "More than building relationship or golfing, this program really makes a difference in the lives of local youth and Arby's is proud to take part."