Why did you decide to establish your charity on the First Coast? My husband is from Pennsylvania and I
am from Ohio. When we were first traveling on tour we tried to support some charities in our hometowns. We decided that because the First Coast is where we are raising our children—and where we live—that this is where we really want to make our biggest impact.
Now we have focused all of our efforts on
the First Coast, so our kids can be involved in helping out in the community. To know that we can make such an impact right here—in our backyard basically—that’s where we want to be doing our work.
How do you help raise awareness about other charity opportunities? A lot of people don’t know there are kids
out there that had a perfectly normal childhood and then they are stricken with some sort of condition that has changed their life. Sometimes, as a parent, it’s hard to look past dealing with a child that has so many needs—you don’t realize there are organizations like Community PedsCare that can help. Tey might be able to help you with a gas card if you’re short on money. Sometimes insurance doesn’t cover all the things that these children need, so Community PedsCare is there to help fill in the blanks.
Blessings in a backpack—they supply food
for kids. Every Friday they take home a backpack and it’s filled with food. It’s $80 to support a kid for the entire school year. A lot of people don’t know that there are kids in Jacksonville that need that service.
Tat’s what we’re trying to do, to make
people aware of the charities that are already in existence—already doing amazing things— but they don’t have the funding, or people aren’t aware of them, to give them support. Tis is our way of marketing for these groups. We can share what they do and why they’re important.
What does the future hold for the Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation? I wish I knew! Obviously, we want to
continue to grow and do what we can. But, keeping in mind that Jim and I have a life on the road with the PGA Tour and two kids that are growing, and we want to make sure that we keep a realistic and even view on trying to balance.
We are going to continue to support this
community as long as we are here, and then some. We are gaining national as well as local attention. I think it can only get bigger and better, and we can do more to help children in need.
How do you balance running an organization, the PGA Tour and being a mom? It’s a juggle. I’m fortunate because I have
a great support system. I have great friends and family who want to help out. Tey help put on the events that we do. I couldn’t do it without them. If we had to pay someone to do all of the work we wouldn’t be able to give as much back to charities.
I rely on my kids, and they love the fact
that we are able to help other charities. Even when we’re on the road we are involved with charity events for the PGA Tour. It’s something that they’re passionate about. We’re fortunate in that respect. We’re a team, everybody is working together. It’s something we want to get done so we’re willing to make sacrifices where we need to.
Why did you decide to raise your family here on the First Coast? Considering that Jim plays golf, weather
comes into play and having a location that has great golf courses in the community is important. Te tour spends the majority of the time on the East Coast, so travel time is important. For Florida, and Jacksonville in particular, to have the rivers and the ocean was kind of the initial pull. Really, once we got here, we became part of the community. We created such wonderful friends and relationships—that’s what kept us here and why we chose to raise our family here.
Tabitha and Jim Furyk at the Third Annual Furyk and Friends Fundraiser
Tabitha’s Quick Questions Favorite First Coast spot: Home Favorite First Coast golf course: Sawgrass Book you’re currently reading: I wish! We just finished an event, but I plan to pick one up.
Jim’s Quick Questions Favorite First Coast spot: Home Favorite First Coast golf course: Pablo Creek Book you’re currently reading: Currently in between books—sadly don't get much free time to read.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60