FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wayne Witczak
Director of Development Phone: (386) 842-5501
Cell: (386) 688-0054
E-mail: wwitczak@youthranches.org

News Release

 
Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Brings Golf Activities to the Youth Living On Campus

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL – The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches has created a corporate partnership
with Professional Golf Association member Tom Shea and the Bettie Vinny Fore the Kids organization
to bring the game of golf to youth at the Ranches. “Life Skills Through Golf” is the motto of
Bettie Vinny Fore The Kids organization. With over 30 years of experience in the golf industry as a
teacher and coach, Tom will now work with the Youth Ranches through this organization as a mentor
and volunteer PGA Golf Coach.

The first event will be the Golf Balls Fore Kids drive to gather donations of new and used golf
balls for resale to supplement the planned life enrichment activities. Tom will also implement a
caddie/mentor program, matching youth with qualified mentors to help develop the skills they need
to pursue a career. Various golf events such as parent/child golf tournaments will be utilized to
partner youth with mentors.

This collaboration will include a partnership with the Tarpon Woods Golf Club, owned by the Jan
Stephenson’s Crossroads Foundation, to facilitate a brand new golf course STEM program with the
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). This is part of their First Green
initiative to show youth the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) it takes to operate
all facets of a golf course.

Tom is excited to partner with the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches. He began the Bettie Vinny Fore
the Kids non-profit in honor of his parents, who adopted him out of the foster care system when he
was a child. Tom credits his parents with saving his life by making him a part of the Shea family.

The mission of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is to prevent delinquency and develop lawful,
resilient and productive citizens through a broad range of services. This year, the Youth Ranches
will serve over 4,000 boys and girls.

This charitable, nonprofit organization was founded by the Florida Sheriffs Association in 1957 and
operates three residential care campuses along with three summer camps. Additionally, it provides
community-based services to as many of Florida’s neglected, troubled children as funds will permit.
Voluntary contributions are the primary source of funding, especially thoughtful gifts made through
special bequests in wills and trusts.

The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, Inc. is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation
of Services for Families and Children, Inc. and the American Camp Association. If you would like
more information about the Youth Ranches please contact us at 1-800- 765-3797.