Players Championship donates $25,000 to Episcopal Children's Services Early Head Start Center

Garry Smits, Florida Times-Union
·4 min read
Past and current Players Championship volunteer leaders, staff and kids came together last week to celebrate The Players donating $25,000 to the Episcopal Children's Services Early Head Start Center in Northwest Jacksonville.
Past and current Players Championship volunteer leaders, staff and kids came together last week to celebrate The Players donating $25,000 to the Episcopal Children's Services Early Head Start Center in Northwest Jacksonville.

The latest charitable grant from The Players Championship will help kids at a Northwest Jacksonville Early Head Start Center with more outdoor activities.

Episcopal Children's Services received $25,000 from The Players to fund an outdoor play and learning project at the head start center on West 18th Street. It's in an area where more than 40 percent of the population earns less than the federal poverty level and the crime rate is the highest in the city.

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The donation will enable the center to have an Infant/Toddler Play area specifically designed to encourage physical, emotional, creative, and mental development for those ages, as well as integrating art, music and nature experiences that build gross and fine motor skills.

Because the children who attend ECS often live in unsafe neighborhoods, many only experience the joy of outdoor play when they are at the Early Head Start center.

“We are delighted to partner with The Players, an organization that has been supportive of our mission for many years,” said Connie Stophel, CEO of Episcopal Children’s Services, in a statement. “This generous grant and investment in our community will no doubt improve the lives of the vulnerable young children and families we work so hard to serve. We could not be more thankful.”

Players executive director Jared Rice said the tournament's charity board jumped at the chance to help ECS when it heard it wanted to build the outdoor area.

It's the latest in a series of grants in the Urban Core of Jacksonville.

"When we heard about this need to give more kids in our community the chance to experience the joy and peace that come from free play, it was obvious we needed to get on board to support this important project," Rice said in a statement. "We have a special place in our heart for supporting youth and giving them the tools and resources to succeed, and we can’t wait to see this area come to life.”

Episcopal Children’s Services serves more than 25,000 children and their families in 14 counties in Florida. ECS offers School Readiness, Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Marion, Dixie, Gilchrist, Lake, Levy, Citrus and Alachua counties.

ECS uses research and best practices to help families ensure their children enter school ready to learn. Talented, dedicated teachers and staff work proactively with children from birth to age five and their families to build a strong educational foundation.

Ready at Bandon Dunes

One of the largest contingents of junior players from the First Coast in the U.S. Junior will begin play Monday at two courses at Bandon Dunes in Oregon.

There will be two rounds of stroke-play qualifying Monday and Tuesday at Bandon Dunes and Bandon Trails, with the top-64 advancing to match play at Bandon Dunes.

The tee times for the first two rounds for First Coast players (EDT):

Matthew French, Orange Park: 10:32 a.m. (BD No. 1); 3:52 p.m. (BT No. 10).

Luke Balakiewicz, Jacksonville: 11:54 a.m. (BD No. 10); 5:09 p.m. (BT No. 1).

Andrew McLauchlan, Neptune Beach: 4:03 p.m. (BD No. 10); 10:48 a.m. (BT No. 1).

Carson Brewer, Ponte Vedra Beach: 11:10 a.m. (BT No. 1); 4:25 p.m. (BD No. 10).

Miles Russell, Jacksonville Beach: 11:54 a.m. (BT No. 10); 5:04 p.m. (BD No. 1).

Phillip Dunham, Ponte Vedra Beach: 5:09 p.m. (BT No. 1); 11:54 a.m. (BD No. 10).

Sam Davis, Jacksonville: 3:41 p.m. (BT No. 10); 10:21 a.m. (BD No. 1).

Nolan Harper, St. Augustine: 4:14 p.m. (BT No. 10); 10:54 a.m. (BD No. 1).

Schroeder wins first round

A year after reaching the quarterfinals of the U.S. Junior Girls, Kaitlyn Schroeder of Jacksonville was defeated in the second round last week at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Ky.

Schroeder advanced from stroke-play qualifying with a 3-over 149 (the course was a par-73), a tie for 40th and defeated Trinity Beth of Calvert City, Ky., 3 and 2 in the first round.

Schroeder had a 2-up lead through 12 holes and held on. She then fell to Reese McCauley in 20 holes.

Dunn has a hot day

Jon Dunn of Jacksonville played on Florida mini-tour events in his youth but had one of his most memorable days on the golf course on July 16 at North Hampton.

Dunn shot a 67 to beat his age of 68, and had a torrid front nine, his back after beginning on the 10th hole. After shooting 2-over on the back, he turned and was 7-under 29 for the rest of his day. He made two eagles, one on the par-5 sixth hole and another on the par-4 eighth hole, when he holed a wedge shot after hitting a hybrid off the tee.

Contact Garry Smits at gsmits@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Players Championship grant assists Jacksonville outdoor learning center