Supporting Opportunities for Kids

Graduating from high school and going on to college can feel like a long shot to kids and teens facing extraordinary challenges growing up in their local communities. That’s why Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County (BGMC) provides safe, supportive places to nurture kids and help them build promising futures.

That support is made possible by fundraising events like the organization’s Swing for the Kids Golf Outing on June 26, which raised $120,000 to benefit the organization’s summer camps and after-school programs in Asbury Park, Long Branch, Neptune, and Red Bank.

“Whatever it takes, Boys & Girls Clubs give youth and teens safe places, caring mentors, and life-changing opportunities to become their best selves,” said Chief Executive Officer Douglas Eagles, who’s been leading the youth development nonprofit for 11 years. “We are extremely grateful for the community’s support that helps make our programs accessible to all in need.”

Eighty golfers supported the sold-out tournament at Hollywood Golf Club in Deal. It was presented by lead sponsors Woodhaven Lumber & Millwork, the Sweeney Group from Morgan Stanley, and Nancy Karpf. The event included a round of golf, a cocktail reception and dinner with remarks from Eagles and Javon Pearsall, a youth development professional for BGCM.

Pearsall, 23, of Asbury Park, grew up at the organization’s club in Asbury Park and now serves as a role model for youth enrolled in the Long Branch unit, which opened last year to expand services designed to empower all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible adults.

A highlight of the golf tournament was a hole-in-one made by Monmouth County native Chris Kelly, who splits his time between residences in Spring Lake and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was the avid golfer’s first hole-in-one, a 185-yard shot on the 15th hole.

Kelly beat odds of 12,500 to one to make the hole-in-one, which won him a 2023 Land Rover, valued at $76,830. The car was sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover of Monmouth and was the second time in the 16-year history of the tournament that a golfer achieved a hole-in-one.

Kelly, 64, said he is impressed with the BGCM programs and dedicated mentors like Pearsall, who return to give kids and teens “stability and support” to help them thrive in life.

Additional sponsors of the golf outing were: Starfield Companies; Navigators, a Brand of the Hartford; Robin and John Klein; Brown’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing; PMC Wireless; Monmouth Medical Center; Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield NJ; and New Jersey Natural Gas.

“We rely on the community’s generosity to make a difference for kids, teens and their families,” Eagles said. “And we couldn’t be more thankful for the generous support during our milestone 85th anniversary of BGCM.”

For more information about volunteering or donating to BGCM, visit their website at www.bgcmonmouth.org.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County
Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County (BGCM) does whatever it takes to empower all young people — especially those who need us most — to achieve their full potential. For 85 years, we’ve been providing safe places, caring mentors, and life-changing programs that help youth thrive. We're the region’s leading charitable youth development organization with Club locations in Asbury Park, Long Branch, Neptune, and Red Bank, NJ. Explore our supportive out-of-school-time education, technology, nutritional, and athletic programs that build bright futures at www.bgcmonmouth.org.