Anna Mae Hayden, who has served as The YouthQuest Foundation’s events coordinator for six years, is moving on to begin a new career adventure.
If you’ve had any contact with our organization, chances are you’ve had the pleasure of meeting Anna Mae. A tireless networker, Anna Mae seems to know everyone in our community and remember everything about them. The connections she’s made over the years have helped us build a strong core of supporters and partners.
Anna Mae is probably best known for organizing our signature annual fundraiser, The Challenge at Trump National. From contacting volunteers, sponsors and celebrity guests to assembling items for silent auctions, she juggled all sorts of tasks to make the golf tournament bigger and better every year. But her contributions go far beyond that big event. Anna Mae worked behind the scenes year-round to keep everything at our Foundation running smoothly.
Every December, she threw herself into decorating for the Christmas party hosted by AOC Solutions, our upstairs neighbor and a major supporter of YouthQuest. Fortunately, she’s already promised to continue that tradition.
Even though she won’t be here in person, Anna Mae’s legacy remains in the positive impact our Foundation has had on at-risk children and their families. Her work made it possible for us to touch hundreds of lives during her six years at YouthQuest.
Everyone at YouthQuest wishes Anna Mae all the best in her new job at the Hampton Inn and Conference Center in Winchester, Va.
“It was a grand day for America’s at-risk youth,” says YouthQuest Foundation Co-Founder and President Lynda Mann.
The 8th Annual Challenge at Trump National Golf Club in Potomac Falls, Va., on Aug. 12 was YouthQuest’s most successful fundraiser ever.
“The weather was great, the event was great, people really enjoyed themselves,” says Lynda.
After watching a trick-shot performance by the always-entertaining Brad Denton, 115 golfers headed out for a shotgun start on Trump’s challenging Championship Course.
“It was the largest field of golfers we’ve ever had and there were more new sponsors than in previous years,” says YouthQuest Secretary Bill Hall.
Fetch makes his tournament debut
One sign of the growing community support for our tournament was the presence of Fetch, the big, floppy-eared mascot for the Loudoun Hounds baseball team of the independent Atlantic League. While Fetch and his handlers from the Hounds greeted players on the 1st tee, representatives from the North American Soccer League’s Virginia Cavalry FC manned the 18th. This is the first year we’ve had the Hounds and Cavalry as tournament sponsors.
Both teams are part of VIP Sports & Entertainment, whose vice chairman is Joe Travez, a valued partner in our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education initiative. He’s the CEO of Prototype Productions, Inc. in Ashburn, which hosted a tour in June for the students in our first 3D printing class. Mr. Travez’s message to the teens from Maryland’s Freestate ChalleNGe Academy during their visit was inspirational and we hope to make PPI an integral part of our expanded STEM program.
The money raised through the golf tournament helps us provide academic and vocational development, infrastructure support and life-enriching experiences that give troubled teens the opportunity to fulfill their potential. Thanks to our supporters’ generous contributions, we will be able to reach many more students with our 3D printing project. We’ll also promote the growth of GRL-PWR, the girls’ empowerment program that came to our attention through our sponsorship of the Loudoun Youth Step Up competition.
Bill, who chairs the golf tournament committee, says what our guests learn about YouthQuest during the event makes a strong impression. He recalls one player from Hewlett-Packard telling him: “This is the kind of stuff we need to be supporting. This I can see makes a difference.”
Besides contributing to a good cause, players come back year after year because “it’s just a fun tournament,” says Lynda.
Washington Redskins alumni Mike Nelms, Roy Jefferson and Mike Bragg sign a football for Destination Cellars CEO David Keuhner and his son, Jaden.
“The celebrities are always a big hit,” adds Bill. “One guy said ‘I’m a great Redskins fan, so try to put a Redskin with me,’ which we did.”
The Washington Redskins alumni are perennial favorites. Executive Director Jerry Olsen, Charley Taylor, Jimmie Jones, Mike Nelms, Roy Jefferson, Mike Bragg and Ravin Caldwell were on this year’s tournament roster.
Adding some sports diversity to the field of golfers, we also welcomed former Major League Baseball pitcher Pete Schourek, along with retired Major League Soccer goalkeepers Mike Ammann and Mark Simpson. Both used to play for DC United and Mark is now director of soccer operations for the Cavalry.
Pete Schourek in action
We were also honored to have Fairfax City Chief Dave Rohr playing again this year, in addition to other local first responders. Representing Fairfax County Fire & Rescue were Deputy Chief Michael Reilly, retired Deputy Chief Glenn Benarick and retired firefighters Rand Gaber and Oliver Skinker.
After a sun-and-fun-filled day on the course, everyone cooled off at a reception and awards ceremony at the Trump National clubhouse.
Our Director of Training and Volunteer of the Year, Tom Meeks, demonstrated 3D printing and GRL-PWR Co-Founder Royal Phillips spoke about our partnership.
3D Systems Director of Social Impact Leanne Gluck accepted our Additive Manufacturing Strategic Partner Award. The company’s support has been essential in the development of our 3D printing project. It provided the hardware the students use and hosted a tour of the plant where the Cube 3D printers are built.
Community Partner Awards went to the NFL Players Association and Washington Redskins Chapter of NFL Alumni, Inc., along with Michael Garcia, operating partner of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in McLean, Va., which hosted the tournament’s VIP reception on Aug. 8. Ritzert & Leyton, PC sponsored the VIP reception at Fleming’s.
Loudoun Youth CEO Jared Melvin putts on the 1st green as Lynda Mann and Roy Jefferson watch.
The Foundation also awarded grants to Luke’s Wings and Loudoun Youth’s Step Up.
Luke’s Wings is a nonprofit organization that provides flights for families to visit wounded American servicemembers who are hospitalized or in rehabilitation. YouthQuest understands that separation can be a serious risk factor for children in military families, especially in times of crisis. By bringing families together, Luke’s Wings helps reduce the risks for kids.
The Step Up contest challenges Loudoun County middle and high school students to become leaders by identifying problems in their communities and developing solutions. YouthQuest is pleased to renew its sponsorship of the competition.
The Trump National staff deserves an award, too, for their quick response to anything we needed. All of our tournament participants were treated to a first-class experience.
“We love having our event at Trump because their staff makes us look really good,” says Lynda. “They just make it happen.”
There’s just one thing that would make our signature fundraising event better, says Lynda. That is if Donald Trump’s busy schedule allows him to accept our invitation to play in the 9th Annual Challenge at Trump National on Aug. 11, 2014.
Gary Hoffman, left, and fellow volunteer Tony Sanderson at YouthQuest's 2010 golf tournament
Throughout his career, Gary Hoffman has met “a lot of really good kids who had just gotten off the right path.”
He’s a longtime YouthQuest Foundation volunteer because he’s seen how the programs we support put at-risk teens back on the path to a better life.
Gary has volunteered at our annual fundraising golf event since 2008. (This year’s Challenge at Trump National Golf Club is on Aug. 12. Click here for details and registration information.)
“I got involved with the golf tournament as a volunteer to support the cause because I knew what great things they did for at-risk youth in the community,” he says.
Gary is an account manager with Temporary Solutions, an Employment Enterprises company based in Manassas, Va. Previously, he worked in higher education business development and the Job Corps, which introduced him to the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy program. In the process, he learned about our Foundation’s partnership with the ChalleNGe program and became an enthusiastic YouthQuest supporter.
He praises the Foundation’s dedication to providing high school dropouts with opportunities to resume their education, and to learn the life skills and values they need to become “healthy, productive adults in the community.”
At-risk kids see the world as “being against them,” Gary explains. “But when they see there is a community out there that supports them and wants to see them succeed, then it gives them a broader view of society and lets them know there is a possibility that they can succeed in life if they just apply themselves and surround themselves with the right people.”
YouthQuest helps them do that not only by making financial contributions, he says, but by “showing them there are people in the community that stand behind them and support their positive growth and development.”
“YouthQuest opens their eyes and gives them a glimpse of what’s possible,” says Gary. “That’s one of the reasons I wanted to become a part of it and gladly volunteer my time.”
YouthQuest Foundation Vice President and Co-Founder Allen Cage talked with the Washington Post about our upcoming fundraiser, The Challenge at Trump National Golf Club.
Allen also runs AOC Solutions and several companies that provide financial systems and e-commerce services for government and commercial customers.
He told Capital Business columnist Thomas Heath he hopes to make this year’s tournament the biggest one so far.
Cage is now using his business contacts to help raise money at his Aug. 12 golf tournament to benefit his YouthQuest Foundation, which provides scholarships for at-risk teens. The tournament is at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling.
“We raised $75,000 last year and we are hoping to raise that to $100,000 this year,” said Cage. Read the full column here.
David Keuhner, the founder and CEO of Destination Cellars, has played in The YouthQuest Foundation’s fundraising golf tournament every year since 2009. He’ll be there again this year, on August 12, for The Challenge at Trump National.
David told us why he supports YouthQuest:
I got involved with YouthQuest Foundation back in late 2008. After having an opportunity to meet with co-founders Lynda Mann and Allen Cage and learning more about what the goals of YouthQuest were, I had to get involved in some way.
Having lost my father when I was six years old, I was raised by a single mom. Luckily, I had a great family and a support cast of friends that helped over the years. However I was certainly a perfect candidate for being an “at-risk youth.” I was extremely lucky, but unfortunately many kids aren’t. They don’t have a solid foundation around them to help them succeed.
I understand — and YouthQuest clearly understands — that our youth are the next leaders of our country. They need a strong base to build upon for the future. YouthQuest is trying to give these kids a second chance with a solid foundation to learn and to be a positive influence to society. YouthQuest is a model foundation to help the youth of tomorrow.
Not only is David a great friend of our Foundation, he’s also one of the most fashionable players on the golf course every year. Will he be sporting the multi-colored polka-dot shorts again this time? The bold diamond pattern? The elegant basic black or gray?
Maybe he’ll surprise us with a new look for 2013. You can help decide. Post a comment on our Facebook page to tell David what to wear this year. Then sign up to join David and our other supporters for a day of fun and fundraising at Trump National in Potomac Falls, Va. For details, visit www.youthquestfoundation.org or call (703) 234-4633.
At the 2012 Challenge at Trump National Golf Club, YouthQuest Foundation Co-Founders Lynda Mann and Allen Cage presented a check for $5,000 to the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, represented by (L-R) Thunder Young, Bobby Stewart, Keith Hammond, Terry Lynn Dunmeyer, Kelvin Sandler.
The Challenge at Trump National Golf Club is The YouthQuest Foundation’s signature fundraising event. This annual tournament is vital to the success of our mission to provide life-changing opportunities for America’s at-risk youth.
We’ve held charity tournaments every year since 2006 and our goal is to make this year’s event – on August 12 at the world-class Trump National Golf Club, Washington, DC — the biggest and best one yet.
Bobby Stewart told his inspiring story at last year’s tournament.
At last year’s tournament, we presented a check for $5,000 to support the Maryland Freestate ChalleNGe Academy. Bobby Stewart, who graduated from the Academy in 2000, played in the tournament and spoke during the awards ceremony about the dramatic difference Freestate made for him as a troubled teen. Bobby had given up on high school, but the Academy run by the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program provided the structure and discipline he needed to earn his diploma and go on to success in the auto dealership business.
This year, the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy became the home of our first 3D printing project for at-risk youth.
Our supporters come back to play in the tournament year after year because they know their donations help kids who are in trouble turn their lives around. On top of that, they get to enjoy a day of fun at a club few golfers ever have the chance to experience.
The event begins with a trick shot demonstration by Golf Entertainer Brad Denton, followed by a shotgun start for the foursomes and their celebrity players. Lunch is served on the course and the day wraps up with a reception and awards ceremony.
We’re pleased that so many of our regular players have signed up already. Now we need to add some newcomers so we can double our numbers from last year and fill both of the magnificent Trump National courses in Potomac Falls, Va.
Scott McDonald (center) and his RE/MAX Gateway team played with former Redskins star Brian Mitchell (right) at the 2012 Challenge at Trump National.
We want to thank YouthQuest Foundation supporters like RE/MAX Gateway President Scott McDonald who have already registered for our annual fundraiser, The Challenge at Trump National Golf Club on August 12.
If you sign up and pay by the end of this month, you’ll get 10% off the price of any sponsorship level.
Every year since 2006, we’ve brought golfers together to raise funds for programs that help America’s at-risk youth. This year, we want to double our numbers and fill both of the extraordinary Trump National courses that run along the river in Potomac Falls, Va.
Each sponsored foursome will be matched up with a celebrity player for a day of fun at a club few golfers ever get the chance to experience.
The event begins with an amusing and amazing trick shot demonstration by Brad Denton, Golfweek’s 2013 Golf Entertainer of the Year. Then the Challenge gets under way with a shotgun start. Lunch is served on the course and the day wraps up with a reception and awards ceremony.
To join Scott and our many other supporters at the tournament, contact us at info@youthquestfoundation.org or call (703) 234-4633. Act by May 31 and save 10%.
YouthQuest’s signature fundraiser is our annual golf tournament, The Challenge at Trump National. This year’s event will be on August 12 at the extraordinary Trump National Golf Club, Washington, D.C.
This is a rare chance to play a course few golfers get to experience while supporting our cause at the same time. Each sponsored foursome, their celebrity player and their fore-caddy will enjoy either the challenging Championship Course or the engaging River Course. Our goal is to fill both courses this year, so there’s plenty of room for you to join us as a sponsor or an individual golfer.
