The Loop

Elon golfer starts 'Eagles for Haiti' fundraiser

February 02, 2010

As if being a MBA student at Elon University in North Carolina, planning for his July wedding and preparing for his last semester as a member of the Phoenix men's golf team didn't occupy enough of his time, Jayson Judy has taken on a new diversion: fundraiser.

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The Gibsonville, N.C., native (right) has spent the past few weeks developing "Eagles for Haiti," a campaign where sponsors pledge money for every eagle made by any men's golf team in the Southern Conference during the spring semester. Proceeds will be given to the American Red Cross to benefit its efforts in helping the country following the earthquake that hit the island Jan. 12.

"When the earthquake first happened, I came up with an idea to do a can drive at our school ... but talking our local Red Cross guy he said raising money would be the best way to help," Judy said. "I thought about the Eagles for St. Jude project the PGA Tour does  ... so Eagles for Haiti was brought on by that."

After getting the go-ahead from officials with the conference, Judy contacted the coaches at the other schools and quickly gained their support.

The 11 conference schools that have men's teams (Appalachian State, Chattanooga, College of Charleston, Davidson, Elon, Furman, Georgia Southern, Samford, UNC Greensboro, Western Carolina, Wofford) have made between 55 and 110 eagles during the spring season in recent years. His modest goal of getting $100 in pledges for every eagle (he current is up to $63) would allow the effort to raise more than $10,000 when the conference championship rolls around in April. "Hopefully we'll even exceed that $100 goal," he said.

Judy said he has been encouraged by the support he's received so far, particularly when Elon president Leo Lambert chipped in with a pledge.

The fundraiser has a website--www.eaglesforhaiti.org--where donations can be made. (You can also e-mail helpnow@eagles for haiti.org). The site will also monitor the play of the Southern Conference schools, tracking the eagles made during the spring.