Red Coats present $5,000, new golf equipment to Special Olympics Florida – Duval County

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THE PLAYERS Championship’s volunteer leadership, the Red Coats, presented a $5,000 donation to Special Olympics Florida – Duval County and surprised the organization’s athletes with brand new golf equipment on Tuesday, Sept. 18 at Hidden Hills Golf Club in Jacksonville. 

Jessica Ray, Duval County executive director for Special Olympics Florida, applied for the Red Coat grant from THE PLAYERS and said the new equipment and financial donation will make a tremendous impact on the organization. 

"The money goes to new clubs, but also new golf shoes," she said. "It goes to pay venue fees to go elsewhere and golf at different places, new uniforms. It definitely goes directly back to our athletes."

Ray said watching the athletes receive their new golf equipment is the reason she wakes up every morning.

"It's not about the paper work, it's not about anything else," she said. "It's really about them getting to get their hands on gear that maybe they wouldn't. A lot of times we're playing with older equipment and for them to get to play with brand new equipment — it's amazing for them. Seeing them hitting with their new golf clubs, it's the reason why we do what we do." 

The visit with Special Olympics was one stop of the Red Coat Ride Out, an annual tradition of giving for THE PLAYERS Championship. The Red Coats also made a stop that day at BASCA (Building Abilities of Special Children and Adults) in Orange Park to tour its facility and present a similar monetary donation. 

Ray, who described the Red Coat Ride Out as an amazing event, went on to explain how Special Olympics Duval offers its athletes the best equipment it can purchase while helping them make lasting memories. Additionally, Ray noted that her organization has seen exponential growth in its golf program from just seven athletes in 2016 to 27 athletes in 2018.

“It's really cool to have the Red Coats come out and see value in the programs we're offering enough to give us not only funds," she said, "but actual equipment for our athletes right now so that they can come out and hit clubs."

As the athletes tested out their new equipment and enjoyed the outdoors, Chris Schaier — the father of Special Olympics athlete Fletcher Schaier — said his reaction to the event was overwhelming.

"These athletes are just trying so hard to do their best with what they've got, and we don't always have the best equipment," he said. "I'm not much of a golfer myself, I enjoy playing but for Fletcher to get the opportunity to progress both as an athlete and to get better equipment, it will only make him better."

Schaier's son has been participating in the Special Olympics for five years. Getting involved in sports has helped Fletcher gain confidence, be a better teammate and offer an opportunity for him to socialize, he added.

"He loves it," Schaier noted. "I love golf, (Fletcher) likes to get out there with me ... he's learned skills over the last couple years but now he's progressed to where he can actually get out and play."