Realize Charlotte Charity Golf Tournament Raises More Than $11,000 for Joshua’s Cross Foundation

What started with a goal of raising $10,000 turned into a sold-out golf tournament, 20 teams on the course and more than $11,000 raised for a cause that hits close to home.

On Monday, September 14, Realize Charlotte hosted its inaugural Charity Golf Tournament at Stonebridge Golf Club in Monroe, bringing together golfers, local businesses, sponsors and members of the Charlotte community in support of Joshua’s Cross Foundation.

By the end of the day, the tournament had surpassed its original fundraising goal and raised more than $11,000 to support individuals and families impacted by addiction and fentanyl poisoning.

And for our first year, we couldn’t have asked for a better response from Charlotte.

A Sold-Out First Year

When we started planning this tournament, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect.

The goal was simple: bring people together for a great day of golf while using the Realize Charlotte platform to raise money and awareness for an organization doing meaningful work in our community.

Charlotte showed up.

The tournament completely sold out with 20 teams participating, and every available sponsorship was filled.

Golfers spent the day at Stonebridge Golf Club competing, connecting and supporting the cause, while prizes and an auction featuring Charlotte memorabilia helped add even more to the money raised throughout the event.

Our original goal was to raise more than $10,000.

Together, everyone who participated helped us surpass it.

Why We Played: Joshua’s Cross Foundation

Behind the tournament is a much bigger story.

Joshua’s Cross Foundation was created by Carol Fancher in memory of her son, Joshua Fancher, who died from fentanyl poisoning in March 2023 at 32 years old after an 18-year struggle with opioid addiction.

Joshua carried a cross on his key ring, which ultimately inspired the foundation's name and the thousands of wooden crosses his family now distributes to people struggling with addiction or working through recovery.

Today, Joshua’s Cross Foundation works to connect people struggling with addiction with recovery resources, educate communities about the dangers of fentanyl and provide support to families affected by substance abuse.

The organization also holds retreats for parents whose children have struggled with drug use.

Its long-term vision is even bigger: creating a rehabilitation facility where children struggling with addiction and their families can access medical care, counseling and the resources they need in one place.

For Jay White, supporting that mission is personal.

Jay serves on the board of Joshua’s Cross Foundation and has known Carol as a business partner for years. He made a commitment to help bring greater awareness to the foundation and its mission, and this tournament became one way Realize Charlotte could help do that.

Charlotte Showed Up

Realize Charlotte spends a lot of time talking about what makes this city such a great place to live: the neighborhoods, businesses, people, events and constant growth happening around us.

But community is about more than where we live.

It's about what happens when people show up for one another.

Seeing 20 teams fill the course, businesses step up to sponsor the event and people throughout the Charlotte area contribute their time, money and resources was a reminder of just how powerful that can be.

As Jay told WBTV following the tournament, the response exceeded what we expected:

“I didn’t know what to expect. The outpouring has been really cool to see.”

We couldn't agree more.

Thank You, Charlotte

To every golfer who joined us, every sponsor who supported the tournament, every business and individual who donated, Stonebridge Golf Club, our volunteers, and everyone behind the scenes who helped bring the day together: thank you.

More than $11,000 raised during one day is something worth celebrating.

But what matters most is where that money is going and the people it can help.

Our first Realize Charlotte Charity Golf Tournament may officially be in the books, but after seeing the response from this community, it certainly won't be our last.

We'll see you back on the course next year. ⛳️

Learn More About Joshua’s Cross Foundation

Joshua’s Cross Foundation is working to raise awareness about addiction and fentanyl poisoning while providing resources and support to individuals and families navigating substance abuse and recovery.

To learn more about the organization, its mission or ways you can support its work, visit joshuascrossfoundation.org.

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