When Alicia Washington rose to speak to a room filled
with successful business men and women during the 22nd Annual A.
Gary Anderson Memorial Golf Classic, silence settled over the room.
“During the first year of my life, I was left in a taxi
cab and became part of the foster system,” said Alicia. “I grew up in many different homes, and went
to many different schools. I soon
realized that I wanted to create my own ‘freedom pass’ through education. My 18th birthday fell the day
before my high school graduation, which meant I was homeless. On the day of graduation I had to try and
find transportation to the graduation ceremony.”
Washington continued her story of being homeless for
quite a while and then discovered a program offered by San Bernardino County
which provided transitional housing for foster youth. She recently graduated from California State
University – San Bernardino and proudly stated, “I again graduated, the day
before my birthday.” She went on to say
that she is the voice for foster youth.
After Washington received a standing ovation, a $50,000
pledge was made by the Colonies Partners for foster youth. And, the pledges kept coming in, totaling
more than $75,000 for older foster youth by the end of the evening, bringing
the grand total raised by the event to more than $500,000.
The largest annual fundraiser for Children’s Fund, the
event’s co-title sponsors were the A. Gary Anderson Family Foundation and
Diversified Pacific Opportunity Fund, and the event sponsor was Young Homes. After
his passing in 1992, the A. Gary Anderson Memorial Golf Classic was established
to continue Gary’s work supporting at-risk and abused children through
Children’s Fund. Since its inception, the AGA Memorial Golf Classic has raised
more than $6 million to serve the most vulnerable children in our region.
“I cannot say thank you enough. Thank you on behalf of the children whose
lives and futures you are changing,” stated Erin Phillips, president & CEO
of Children’s Fund. “We are grateful for
all that has been donated, knowing that there is still so much more that we can
do together.”
