I love the game of golf. I used to play quite well, but years of striving to be (hopefully) a good professional, a great husband, and a loving father have allowed my game to deteriorate to that of almost a beginner level. But I still love to watch when I have the chance.

Living in Omaha, Nebraska, winters are sometimes challenging. This year it’s been particularly bad. February saw temperatures drop to 25 below zero and snow totals for the month were more than 25 inches. Thus, on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, there’s nothing better than watching golfers play on a green course, many times with an ocean behind them, wearing short sleeves and no coats.

What is missing are the fans. While the game, in a technical sense, is not much different, the outcome is. And I’m not talking about the golf scores, winners, or even the tournaments themselves. The PGA in 2020 surpassed $3 billion of charitable giving to local communities where tournaments are held. Think about that - $3 billion in cumulative giving. Every year, hundreds of millions of dollars are given to local partner charities in communities where major PGA events are played. But with no fans this last year, that puts a dent in the ability to support those programs. And those programs are more necessary today than they were just two years ago.

It’s just a reminder of the effect of COVID-19. The true impact of what our world has gone through, and our world regarding fundraising and philanthropic work, just seems endless. Some of this is discussed quite a bit. Some of it’s not discussed enough. But in the end, it’s left very few untouched. Makes you wonder…what happened to all the people who receive these dollars and who these charities touched each day?

Writings by Randall

Generosity Recognized and Missed