AVIDGOLFER

How Pro Golfers Have Pitched In To Help Houston Flood Victims

Rick Arnett /

Everyone it seems is trying to lend a hand or at least donate money/supplies to the flood-ravaged Houston area.

Sergio Garcia and his new wife Angela announced their pledge for the remaining FedExCup playoff events.


So did our AG/Teebox buddy and newly Tour carded Conrad Shindler.


As has Tour player and Houston area resident Chris Stroud, who offered up his home for at least two dozen flood victims.

He lives on high ground in Spring, which is about 20 miles north of Houston, among the areas hit hardest by the freakish, furious storm. Friends have fled suburbs to come to Stroud’s house, which he says is “built like a fortress” and mercifully has stayed dry despite being pounded by more than 50 inches of rain. Neighbors without power have come knocking, as well.

“The kids have been getting along well,” Stroud says. “A couple of guys have been cooking. That’s usually my job. I like to cook a lot.

Stroud was inspired by Houston Texan defensive end J.J. Watt, who started a fund-raising campaign on youcaring.com earlier this week that has taken off like a rocket. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than $6.7 million had been pledged through the page that Watt set up.

“So I saw that yesterday that he was raising money, and I thought, that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” says Stroud, who also wants to organize a charity pro-am. “So I called the TOUR and I said, ‘What can I do?’ … And I said, ‘How do I do this? Who do we use?’”

There’s also Golf.com’s Alan Shipnuck’s account of Symetra Tour player Shannon Fish who joined the giving–even though she’s made all of $17K this year on the Tour.

On social media, Shannon scrolled through posts from friends at home describing their boats scraping the tops of submerged cars. “I had such a strong desire to help,” she says. “I had to find a way.”

So a golfer who has made $17,802 this year in 15 tournaments took to Twitter and pledged to her 5,000 or so followers that she would donate $100 for every birdie and $500 for every eagle at this week’s tournament. “Just a drop in the bucket,” Yvonne says without irony, “but that girl has always had a big heart. And Texans help Texans. That’s who we are.”

Other Symetra players began to make similar pledges – at least two dozen are now on-board. Fans offered to make their own donations. Jim is an electrical contractor and Yvonne helps run the business; vendors heard about what Shannon was doing and called to say they would kick in money, too. Then tournament sponsor GreatLIFE, a health and fitness company, said it would match whatever is collected, up to $50,000. “To be honest, I’m not usually an emotional person,” Shannon says, “but when I heard that, it was waterworks.” A few days ago she was hoping to contribute maybe $1,000 of her own money. Now it’s likely that 100 times that will be raised. “I’m totally beside myself,” Shannon says. “It’s exceeded my wildest expectation. I looked it up – I’m exactly 1,069 miles from home. I’m having a hard time understanding it, how I’ve been able to help from so far away. It’s restored my faith in humanity and the goodness of people.”

Amen.

Houston Texans defensive standout JJ Watt’s initial hope was to raise $200,000. I think he safely surpassed the original goal.


Let’s keep going!https://t.co/SR6DmnNbyM pic.twitter.com/LRhVLzxFZj

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) August 31, 2017


The latest estimates figure the damage costs due to flooding/rain will approach over $150 BILLION. That’s a shocking number. Yet every little bit helps to offer the victims aid and comfort that they are not alone.

 

Chris Stroud Conrad Shindler Sergio Garcia Shannon Fish Symetra Tour