VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Golfers like 13News Now’s Tim Pandajis, Philip Townsend, Angelique Arintok, and Marta Berglund left it all on the course at Top Golf in Virginia Beach Saturday morning.
“I am a competitor," said Sheila Penn who participated in the event. "So, I’m hoping our team, Norfolk State wins.”
Behind the fun is an effort to support several music students in Hampton Roads put on by the Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Command.
“This is our Swings Fore Strings Event," said Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Commander Major Chris Flanagan. "It goes to support our HeartStrings and Valves music program.”
It’s an after-school program for students in first through sixth grade.
“We now have violins, guitars, trumpets baritones, tubas,” HeartStrings and Valves Program Director Marleen Brewster said.
Brewster said this program aims to give all students the same music opportunities.
“Our students are mostly from Title 1 schools throughout the Hampton Roads area,” Brewster said. “It’s our goal to make sure that they can receive the same high-quality music education that other families can afford to receive.”
Brewster said the program started about 10 years ago when the Kroc Center opened. She said it's in partnership with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
She said this fundraising event helps to keep program costs low. Major Flanagan said the best way to raise money is through a fun activity like this.
“It’s entertaining," he said. "It brings a lot of people here. You don’t have to be a great golfer here, you can just have a lot of fun.”
Flanagan said Saturday's goal is to raise $25,000. He said that’s about a quarter of the program’s budget.
He said you can still donate to the cause online.