More than 350 golfers braved the rain at the Odessa Country Club Monday to raise funds for the Midland Rape Crisis and Children’s Advocacy Center.
XTO hosted the annual charity golf tournament. Each year, XTO Energy employees volunteer their time and energy to host the golf tournament to raise funds for a nonprofit making an impact in the Permian Basin. This year it was MRCCAC.
The ceremonial check presented Monday was for $225,000.
MRCCAC Development Director Skylar White said they initially started in 1979 as the Rape Crisis Center and in 1996 they added the Children’s Advocacy Center. White said it was the first time the organization had been chosen as the beneficiary of the tournament. Some 352 golfers turned out.
“We were incredibly humbled, incredibly grateful to be thought of in that capacity and we can’t do what we do without the support of community members and the people that live in the Permian Basin,” White said.
Although Midland is in its name, it serves Howard, Martin and Andrews counties. They also do courtesy interviews for Gaines County, for example, and has a close working relationship with Harmony Home in Odessa.
Most of the proceeds will go toward general operating costs to help cover programs and services that are not otherwise covered by grants and donations.
“The money that was raised today will go directly back into the community and allow us to provide more services to the individuals we serve,” White said.
The MRCCAC saw 752 clients last year.
“Compared to about this time last year, we’ve already seen a 26% increase in the amount of forensic interviews we’ve done, as well as advocacy and therapy requests,” White said.
Usually, they have about 55 forensic interviews a month, but right now they’re seeing 75.
“Granted it is summer, so it does die down during the summer,” White said.
They expect it to go up once school starts as they offer an education program in the schools on body safety such as safe touch, confusing touch and unsafe touch.
Along with golfing, there were other games and raffles. They had the Tipsy Tee Off where golfers wore drunk goggles and the Midland County Sheriff’s Office had an AR ball shoot, a chipping pool, and other contests.
The tournament had a morning and afternoon flight, but the afternoon flight was canceled due to the weather.
