A lively group of cornhole competitors gathered at Walking Tree Brewery recently for a chance to win cash prizes and bragging rights as cornhole champions during the fifth annual Toss Out Child Abuse event. As fun as it was to try to toss little bags into the game board holes, all while sharing craft beers with friends, participants agreed that it was even more rewarding to support child abuse prevention programs.
Sixty-six competitors had signed up in teams of two to test their skills. Qualifying rounds separated players into A and B teams, with eliminations after two rounds, zero wins. With 12 cornhole boards set up throughout the brewery, the competition was fast and furious, eliciting rounds of applause and cheers from the spectators.
A jovial team from iThink Financial jokingly referred to themselves as “an A-minus team,” having just lost the first round. They all agreed that it really didn’t matter whether they won or lost, because they were having fun and supporting a worthy cause.
Raffle tickets were selling quickly and, after guests perused the selection, they deposited their tickets into buckets, hoping to win their chosen prize from among donated items such as gift baskets from local restaurants, spas and retailers, and a custom tie-dyed cornhole game board set.
“All the proceeds from this event goes toward the prevention of child abuse,” said Barbara Parent, an exchange club member. “That is our national project, and this is a local fun fundraiser.”
The information they provided indicates that more than 4 million children are reported as abused and neglected each year. Tragically, more than five children die every day as a result of child abuse and neglect – in 2019 the number was 1,840 – and about 70 percent were under the age of 3.
Those abused children who do survive carry their scars into their adult lives, with 80 percent of those young adults meeting the diagnostic criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder by age 21.
“This is the fifth year we’ve held this event and it was our best year ever,” said Jennifer Frederick, president of the Exchange Club of IRC.
“One-hundred percent of the proceeds will go to our foundation, which supports about a dozen different local agencies with child abuse focus through our grant programs. Events like this help us raise awareness about the prevalence of child abuse as well.”
The Exchange Club of IRC, which has provided the community with programs in youth activities, service and Americanism since 1973, is affiliated with the National Exchange Club. Members meet weekly to discuss business, government, charity, personal and professional topics, and sponsor fundraisers for local child abuse prevention projects.
For more information, visit exchangeclubofindianriver.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones
