ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. – Addressing the 124 golfers at his eighth annual Fore the Children Golf Classic, Bruce Pearl asked for a show of hands from previous participants.
Nearly everyone raised a hand.
Sold out each year since its beginning in 2014, the event benefits Children's Harbor, which provides no-cost services to children and families.
"Families and kids affected by all kinds of different health issues, they get to come to beautiful Lake Martin and go to camp, and they don't have to pay anything," Pearl said Monday at Willow Point Golf and Country Club. "It's our way of encouraging them."
With sponsor support from Russell Lands, Alabama Power, Alfa Insurance, BBVA Compass, Triad Rx, Chick-fil-A, Coca Cola Bottling and Premium Beverage, Fore the Children has raised approximately $1.5 million in eight years.
"We couldn't do it without a sold-out event," Pearl said. "I've got a great staff: Chad Prewett, Johnny Kincey, Tammy Jackson and my wife, Brandy. That's our foundation team. There's no expense so every dime that goes in, it goes back out."
'Together we will'
Fore the Children's success, Pearl said, is an example of the teamwork culture he's instilled in seven seasons leading Auburn's men's basketball program.
"People say, 'What can we do to support the program?'" Pearl said. "Just participate. That's been the whole success of Bruce Pearl Fore the Children, or Auburn Arena, or when we go to Maui, or we're going to Atlantis in The Bahamas.
"We're traveling now, and people are participating in our program, and together we will. That's what's really made this program competitive.
"From the bottom of my heart, I am extremely grateful for the support and I go to work every single day to try to reward the people of Auburn for bringing me here."Sold out: In eight years, the Bruce Pearl Fore the Childen Golf Classic has raised $1.5 million for Children's Harbor
'I like this roster a lot'
The 2021-22 Auburn Tigers will be a blend of old and new, with transfers and five-star freshman forward Jabari Smith joining six returning players: Allen Flanigan, Jaylin Williams, Devan Cambridge, Dylan Cardwell, Chris Moore and Babatunde Akingbola. JT Thor has entered the 2021 NBA Draft with the option to return.
"Times have changed," Pearl said. "The rules have changed. The transfer portal is here and it's here to stay. We lost some, but we brought in some.
"We'll return six players, is all. And we'll bring in six. That's exciting, but we're going to have to get good in a hurry. I like this roster a lot. I think it's got a chance to be very, very competitive.
"We've got to get good in a hurry because the schedule is pretty tough, but I really like my team."
"From the bottom of my heart, I am extremely grateful for the support."
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) May 17, 2021
🗣@coachbrucepearl
BP's Fore the Children Golf Classic has raised ~ $1.5 million for @ChildrensHarbor in 8 years.
"I go to work every single day trying to reward the people of Auburn for bringing me here" pic.twitter.com/rZlZlTjPwI
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer