With the help of groundbreaking baseball great Jackie Robinson and lawyer Stanley Mosk, Charlie took his shot as the first black player on the PGA Tour, helping players of all races, religions and genders take their shots ever since. Please share stories of how you've given kids new to a team, activities or clubs a chance to take their shots.
Thank you, Charles Sifford Jr. and First Tee for spending time and giving support to the young golfers of the First Tee program in Houston, fostering a love of the game for kids who might not otherwise know it is for them, too.
Thank you, Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas for honoring Dr. Sifford with a statue and a plaque and even more importantly by dedicating yourself to training and encouraging the next generation of golfers to take up the sport that he loved. So proud to see a copy of CHARLIE TAKES HIS SHOT in each of the Christmas bags for the graduating juniors at their holiday party!
Thank you to Ruby Bridges and the Ruby Bridges Reading Festival at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis for inviting me to sign free copies of Charlie Takes His Shot for kids. Giving away books is a great way to encourage kids to take their shot because reading opens doors!
When we think of Jackie Robinson, let us not only remember the baseball hero who broke the color line in Major League Baseball. Let’s remember him also as the hero who helped others, like Charlie, achieve their dreams, too.
Thank you to the students at West Rockhill Elementary School in Bucks County, Pennsylvania for collecting food for a local food pantry known as F.I.S.H. that helps feed struggling families in their community. Feeding kids helps make them strong enough to take their shots.
Thank you, Pia Allibhoy, for volunteering at a local pet shelter and giving the animals there the confidence they need to take their shots with families in new forever homes.
Thank you to all the schools, like this one in Lake Dallas ISD, who have installed Buddy Benches. If a child doesn’t have someone to play with, the child sits on the Buddy Bench until another child notices and invites that child to join their game. What a great way to encourage kids to help each other take their shots!