Young Golfer Continues to Use His Talents
on the Course to Change Lives
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Sept. 3, 2015) – Rafe Cochran may be young, but he’s one to watch in the world of golf – and also in the world of philanthropy. The 10-year-old is using his skills on the golf course to help those who are less fortunate. Today, he presented a check to Food For The Poor Executive Director Angel Aloma to benefit families in La Fosse, Thomazeau, Haiti.
“I was so inspired to raise money for Food For The Poor,” said Rafe. “I just had to help and to be a part of making a difference.”
No stranger to giving back, last year Rafe became one of Food For The Poor’s youngest donors when he gave a donation to the charity to build two homes for families in Ganthier, Haiti. He achieved that goal by having his generous supporters pledge $100 for pars, $200 for birdies and $250 for eagles during one of his tournaments. The success of that event further inspired Cochran to use his golfing talents to help families in dire need.
“Located 18 miles west of Port-au-Prince, La Fosse is a small, rural community where the residents are surviving on less than a dollar a day. It’s especially hard for that community’s young children, who tend to be malnourished, so this gift is greatly appreciated,” said Aloma. “Any donation Food For The Poor receives is a welcome blessing for the people we serve, but when it comes from a child, the gift takes on a special meaning. It is amazing when a young person like Rafe is compassionate about the needs of the suffering.”
Cochran fell in love with golfing after picking up his first set of clubs at the age of 6. He later joined the U.S. Kids Tour, where he routinely finished among the top competitors in his age group. In 2012, he competed in the European Open in Scotland with 40 of the best 7-year-olds in the world, and finished in an impressive fourth place.
Now a fifth-grader, Cochran first learned about Food For The Poor when his third-grade class at Palm Beach Day Academy visited the organization’s headquarters in Coconut Creek, Fla. Since then, his enthusiasm about the charity has motivated some of his classmates, the youngest just 6 years old.
Cochran’s parents are longtime supporters of a number of charities. His mother Diahann, a fashion designer, and father Jay, a professional racecar driver, say they are extremely proud of their only child and his compassionate spirit.
“I am very proud of my son Rafe. It’s a great feeling to know that your child has such a passion for helping others. I think it’s great and we are honored to be his parents,” said Jay.
“Rafe is an extremely talented boy who has a huge heart for the poor. It’s rare to meet someone at such a young age who recognizes there is despair in the world and who’s willing to do something about it,” said Aloma.
Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.
Wanda Wright
Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6079
[email protected]
