2016 saw the start of the SUNY’s Got Your Back campaign to support victims of sexual and interpersonal violence throughout New York State. In coordination with our outreach efforts like the SUNY SAVR, a modest goal to fill 2,016 comfort bags in 2016 and deliver them to shelters exploded to finish the year with more than 10,000 comfort bags donated throughout the state. A major reason for this was the support we saw from both inside and outside the SUNY community. And that included a great partnership with the PGA TOUR and the PGA TOUR Wives Association. This year, the partnership is growing.
In 2016, SUNY was lucky enough to form a partnership with these two organizations to help grow the SUNY’s Got Your Back program. At the first stop on the PGA TOUR Playoffs at the Bethpage Black golf course on Long Island, attendees learned of the program and helped us assemble nearly 5,000 comfort bags in one day. We even had support from PGA TOUR pros Chris Kirk and Vaughn Taylor.
SUNY’s Got Your Back in 2017
Now, in 2017, our efforts are expanding. We’ll be back working with the PGA TOUR and the PGA TOUR Wives Association at the 2017 Northern Trust Open in Old Westbury on August 23. This event kicks off the Fed-Ex Cup Playoffs, a four stop event which ultimately decides the 2017 season’s top golfer. At the tournament’s pro-am on Wednesday, the effort will be to once again fill 5,000 comfort bags for regional Long Island sexual assault and domestic abuse shelters.
In addition to the PGA TOUR Playoffs, we will also be present at the 2017 Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, right near Binghamton on August 17. This PGA Champions Tour event brings some of golf’s biggest names, many of who we know from prior years of golf success, to New York to show us that just because you get older doesn’t mean your skills diminish on the golf course. Here as well, the effort will be to fill 5,000 comfort bags at the tournament’s pro-am day for regional support centers in the Southern Tier.
“We are deeply humbled by the support for SUNY’s Got Your Back from our SUNY leadership; our students, faculty, and staff; our partners at NYSCASA, NYSCADV, and the NYC Alliance; the New York State Police and our colleagues in law enforcement; and private companies,” said Project Coordinator Joseph Storch. “With their support, and the generous and dedicated partnership of the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Wives Association, PGA TOUR Champions, the DICK’S Sporting Goods Open and THE NORTHERN TRUST, we are able to take SUNY’s Got Your Back to the next level in serving those in need.”
All fans and attendees are welcome to stop by and help us fill these bags and share the message that SUNY, our students, alumni, faculty, and staff, along with our neighbors and communities, stand with victims of assault as we work to end the cycle of violence that still takes place. Safety and comfort is everyone’s right.
You will be able to follow along with both events by using #SUNYGotYourBack on social media.
Beyond the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour, we’d like to thank the following sponsors for helping make these upcoming events a success: Staples, Notes Inc. USA/Dupli Envelopes and Graphics, Field Notes, Monster Energy, Nielson, Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York
