This golf tournament honors late daughter’s work to fight hunger in Arlington
No doubt Becca Reeder would be proud of her father, Jim, for doing what he does best — helping others. He’d love nothing more than for her to be here to tell him that in person.
She is, however, a part of the mission battling food insecurity as the golf tournament benefiting Arlington Charities and Taste Restaurant bears her name.
The Celanese Foundation/Becca Reeder Memorial Golf Tournament is set for Nov. 20 at Walnut Creek Country Club in Mansfield. The tournament is a four-person scramble beginning at 9 a.m.
Becca was a vice president for Celanese, a worldwide chemical company based in Irving. She died May 30 from a sudden illness while on vacation with some friends in Greece.
“She was a great supporter of my work at Arlington Life Shelter and donated meaningful dollars to that campaign that were matched by Celanese,” said Jim, who retired in 2022 after years of being the capital campaign manager for the shelter.
“Becca had a heart for those in need and really enjoyed being a part of the foundation board and participating in their activities with groups such as North Texas Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity,”
How tourney came to be
Jim had been in talks about Men Serving God, a community service organization he helped found in 2021, doing a fundraising golf tournament for Arlington Charities later in the year. After all, the one Men Serving God had to benefit its own organization has been going strong.
“I was visiting last spring with Arlington Charities not long before our fundraising golf tournament and was telling them about it. One of their people mentioned to me ‘I wish someone would do a golf tournament for us,’” Jim said. “That stuck in my head that possibly MSG could do a fundraising golf tournament dedicated to hunger and food insecurity.”
During those conversations, however, the farthest thing from his mind was that it would be named in honor of his daughter.
“While in the early stages of our grief before her memorial service I had a thought about making this tournament a memorial to her. I visited with the president of the Celanese Foundation at her service about them participating in the tournament by covering the costs. They were very enthusiastic about being able to honor her,” Jim said.
Jim said Celanese pledged $25,000 to cover the cost of the tournament, so all funds raised from sponsorships, players, donations, auctions etc. will go to the two agencies that focus on food insecurity. Meanwhile, the agencies are also out soliciting sponsorships and players, etc. to also help.
Jim said the hope is to raise $40,000 for each agency.
Men Serving God is serving as the host and operator of the tournament at no cost.
Food insecurity
According to The Food Project, 18.1% of the residents in Tarrant County experience food insecurity, 2.7% above the national average. The city of Arlington reported that over 90,000 residents received help from Arlington Charities last year.
When Jim heard that Taste is also expanding from Fort Worth into Arlington in spring of 2024, he said it made sense to include it in the proceeds. Taste provides meals at no cost to those who cannot afford them.
Arlington Charities provides food and other needs daily.
“Both agencies do great work regarding food insecurity,” Jim said. ““One of my goals of the tournament is to make more people aware of the problems of hunger and food insecurity that exist in Arlington and the surrounding area. I think a lot of people aren’t aware.”
Arlington Charities
Arlington Charities is the city’s oldest social services organization and the largest source of supplemental food. They serve approximately 150 families each day through their drive-through food service and are providing additional services through their Tarrant County College satellite pantry, monthly home grocery delivery to 300-plus seniors and homebound, three monthly recurring mobile markets providing for homeless three days per week from their porch.
Organization officials note that they are on track to spend over $250,000 in 2023 on food, the highest amount in their 45-year history.
“As community needs have changed Arlington Charities continues to innovate to meet those needs, seeking out under-served, food insecure areas of our community. AC is excited to partner with Men Serving God and the Celanese Foundation on the Becca Reeder Memorial golf tournament,” executive director Deborah Coppola said.
“Without community support, Arlington Charities would not be able to serve the ever-growing need of those facing food insecurity in the community. Food costs are on the rise and these donations make a big impact on the number of people our organization can serve.
“This tournament is a wonderful tribute to Becca’s work to fight hunger in our community.”
Lesley, a single mom living on a strict budget, expressed her thanks for Arlington Charities, saying “The mobile Mmarket truck has helped tremendously. Everything is going up except your paycheck.”
Taste project
Taste Project’s flagship program, Taste Community Restaurant, is a community place where all are welcome regardless of financial means. Tee menu has no prices and guests pay what they can. Since opening in Fort Worth in 2017 it has served nearly 200,000 meals, along with over 50 tons of fresh produce, engaged over 3,000 volunteers, and graduated 52 culinary apprentices from its certified job training program.
Taste executive director Jeff Williams said the tournament is just another way the Arlington community has been supportive of the Taste Project’s expansion into their city.
“Men Serving God is a powerhouse of service and support, and several members have already begun volunteering in Fort Worth in preparation for our opening in Arlington,” he said. “The Celanese Foundation/Becca Reeder Memorial Golf Tournament connects a wonderful faith and fellowship opportunity as these men golf together, with a positive impact for those in need in the Arlington community. As a beneficiary charity, Taste Project is blessed to be able to honor Becca Reeder’s memory by feeding those in need in the community she loved.”
Celanese
“Becca meant a great deal to all of us at Celanese,” said Celanese Foundation President Brian Blanco. “She was not only a dear friend to many, but also a fixture at our volunteer events and always willing to help out however she could both at work and in the community.
“We are grateful for this opportunity to honor her memory and legacy by helping serve three incredible charity partners through the golf tournament.”
The Celanese Foundation/Becca Reeder Memorial Golf Tournament
Where: Walnut Creek Country Club in Mansfield
Format: Four-person scramble.
When: Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, 9 a.m. shotgun start. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast will be served. Putting contest at 8:15 a.m. Lunch and live auction at conclusion of tournament.
Cost: $500 per team, $150 per individual.
Proceeds benefit: The Taste Project and Arlington Charities.
Sponsorships available from $150 to $5,000.
To register, visit https://menservinggod.org/
Anyone wanting to pay by check can mail to: Men Serving God, 2002 Winewood, Arlington, Texas 76013.
