Audubon Country Club to Host Catholic Charities Fun Day

(Naples, Fl.) – Life for impoverished families is difficult at best and the thought of playing sports for their children is often a distant memory. But, for the third straight year, Audubon Country Club will be opening up its beautiful property for many of these disadvantaged youngsters to experience the unabated joy of playing golf and tennis.

The 3rd annual Catholic Charities of Bonita Fun Day will be held on Tuesday, June 3 from 10am – 1pm. Children between the ages of 5 and 12  will hit golf balls on the driving range, test out their putting skills on the practice putting green and do their best Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams imitations on the tennis courts.

The Catholic Charities Fun Day was the brainchild of Audubon Country Club member Micky Brookman and Matthew Zieke of Catholic Charities of Bonita who, along with Brother Ben of St. Leo’s Catholic Church felt there was a desperate need to help the kids in the local community. Many of the schools were being infiltrated by gangs and many of the youth had nowhere to turn their attention to. What better way than to expose them to a way of life away from drugs and violence and focused on the positive influences of sports. The Catholic Charities of Bonita is a year-long program. During the school months, it serves as an after-school enrichment program and during the summer months, it is a day camp program.

“All of our children are from low-income families and due to financial constraints would not be able to play golf or tennis,” said Matthew Zieke, Director of the Catholic Charities of Bonita. “I can’t say enough about what a wonderful partner Audubon Country Club has been for us over the past few years. Their generosity and profound care for our kids is unwavering and truly a blessing for so many.”

The Fun Day event is part of the summer camp handled by St. Leo’s Catholic Church and nearly 50 kids in all, will take part in the activities at Audubon Country Club. Additionally, camp counselors from many of the country’s Christian Brother high schools will be on hand to assist with the program’s many activities. Currently, two students from the University of Notre Dame are part of the Fun Day camp counseling team for the Catholic Charities of Bonita.

“We felt there was a real need to help these kids, an impassioned effort to give them a day of fun in the sun that they normally would not have otherwise,” said Brookman. “All of us Audubon Country Club take a great deal of pride in putting forth our maximum effort to make this day a memorable one for these kids. To see their smiles gives us an incredible sense of purpose and a heart-warming feeling that is indescribable.”

Jack Hrad, general manager of Audubon Country Club along with head tennis professional Carlos Huerta and the Audubon PGA golf staff will lead the kids in the Fun Day activities.

“Giving back to the community means a great deal to us at Audubon Country Club and what better way than to serve the needs of our local youth, the future of our community,” said Hrad.