September often brings with it cooler temperatures and, in the Camellia City’s unique case, a chance of precipitation in the form of golf balls.

The Pro-Law-Am Golf Tournament fundraiser, typically held near the beginning of September, was a long-held fundraiser for the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge and the Child Advocacy Center that often featured a golf ball drop. A helicopter flying roughly 200 feet above a hole on the driving range would dump a large number of golf balls, each marked with a corresponding owner’s ticket, and the winner of the ball closest to the hole would win a monetary prize.

But the local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge and Kathy Smyth, director of the Children’s Advocacy Center in Greenville, opted to switch things up this year.

“We are doing a sponsorship drive, along with the Fraternal Order of Police, the same guys that we’d been doing the golf tournament with,” Smyth said.

“This year, we decided to do a little something different that would probably net our organization more funding than we were netting through the golf tournament.  So we decided to take this year off, do the donation drive and then we would consider the golf tournament again next year.”

Smyth admitted that it was a difficult decision choosing to forgo the golf tournament this year, despite plans to resume the tournament next year.

“It was a real morale booster for law enforcement officers, and it is a good, solid tournament,” Smyth added.  “But we just felt like we needed to increase our profit this year for both agencies.  We just need a little boost to our bottom line, and we just felt like this would be the most productive way to do that.”

The drive, which began in July, will conclude at the end of September, and all proceeds go directly toward the two agencies.

Those interested in making a donation can contact either Smyth or Justin Lovvorn at 334-382-8584 or 334-382-7461 respectively, or email safeharbor@camelliacom.com.