SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Play for Baddour Center

Published on May 14, 2003 under SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss.—The RiverKings joined 18 local businesses, FedEx, Kemmons Wilson Company, Infiniti cars and WMC-TV 5 Wednesday at North Creek Golf Course in Horn Lake to raise money for The Baddour Center through "The Miracle Drive" charity golf tournament.

RiverKings captain Don Parsons, goalie Mark Richards and Assistant Coach Kevin Ryan joined fan Mark Heath of Melton and Heath C.P.A. to make up a team. It stopped raining just before 6 a.m.—just in time for tournament organizers to set up—and held off until a few minutes before noon, giving the golfers just enough time to get through the course.

"It's good to come out and play golf, to get a chance to break up the monotony of work," Parsons said. "With all that we do, it's good to come out and play golf every once in a while. A bad day at golf is better than a good day at work any day," Parsons said, laughing.

The golfers had the opportunity to capture some nice prizes, like an Infiniti G35 Sedan, and were provided continental breakfast and lunch. The tournament was a four-person scramble format with a shot-gun start at 8 a.m.

"It's fun to come out and raise money for things that we couldn't do on our own and enjoy some golf," Richards said. "Helping a good cause and having fun at the same time—what could be better than that?"

All proceeds from the tournament benefit the Baddour Center, a residential community in Senatobia, Miss. for adults with mild and moderate retardation. Residents are able live by themselves and take care of themselves in a group home setting, go to social activities, work and play in a secure environment on 150 acres of land donated by the Baddour family.

"Advances in medical science have started a trend where children with special needs like Down Syndrome are outliving their parents and caregivers," Director of Development and Public Relations Cathi Johnson said. "It's a whole different situation for family members. They have to plan for a future that may not include them. Families like that of Buddy—our oldest resident, at 70 years old—who could no longer pay for tuition, are often offered a scholarship so that the resident can continue to call the Center home."

The Baddour Center is also home to a packaging facility servicing three separate companies, one of whom is FedEx. Residents process from 3 to 4 million air bills a month; create 1,500 to 2,000 international and domestic welcome kits a day, which new FedEx customers receive upon joining; and package 26 other products for the company. Last year the facility won the Superior Supplier Excellence Award from FedEx, based on a score card from a FedEx vendors survey testing overall satisfaction.

"Our primary goal is to promote the self-sufficiency and self-worth of individuals with mental retardation," said Kara Smith, senior development manager. "The Baddour Center is a place where men and women with mental retardation can lead lives of dignity and hope. Residents can achieve goals, develop life-long friendships and reach their God-given potential."

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