World Golf Championships Inspires St. Jude’s Patient’s Through Colorful Art and Powerful Stories of Hope
Special to NNPA Newswire
With many of the world’s top golf professionals in Memphis for the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational through August 8, patients from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital once again provide inspiration through their colorful art and powerful stories of hope.
As the sole charitable beneficiary of the tournament, officials featured St. Jude patient artwork, adorning custom FootJoy shoes, PING golf bags and TaylorMade putter covers.
All brought global awareness to the lifesaving mission of St. Jude: Finding cures. Saving Children.
In a partnership between FedEx and FootJoy, over 30 FootJoy-sponsored players wore St. Jude patient-designed shoes throughout tournament week.
Max Homa and Will Zalatoris each sported a design created by two individual patients with the help of Memphis-based artist Jamond Bullock.
Other players wore shoes with the “We Won’t Stop” campaign initiative of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
- Jamond Bullock, “Alive Paint,” Memphis, TN: Jamond Bullock is the example we look toward when someone asks, “Is it possible to be a full-time artist?” Make no mistake about it, his art is his full-time job receiving commissions from Issac Hayes III, with features in Essence Magazine and ESPN. Bullock is also a curator for the Young Gifted & Dope series. He has collaborated with Lyfe is Dope and the Downtown Memphis Commission to highlight talented regional artists and a collaborative live art demonstration. Bullock also has a mind for the Memphis community, organizing clean up events in the city and hosting workshops in schools encouraging kids to pursue their passions. A life in art is possible and rewarding.
- Calvin C. (paired with Will Zalatoris), 12 years old, Nebraska, rhabdomyosarcoma: The first signs of Calvin’s cancer emerged in June 2018 after a family bike ride. His mom noticed a bump on his back and his right leg was swollen. A trip to the doctor and a CT scan revealed the presence of cancer, and a biopsy a few days later typed it as stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissue. Read more on St. Jude Inspire.
- Calvin S. (paired with Max Homa), 14 years old, California, craniopharyngioma: In 2016, after being diagnosed with a type of brain tumor called a craniopharyngioma, Calvin had four brain surgeries in quick succession. “July, August, September, October — four surgeries back-to-back to back,” said his mom, Fahm. After the surgeries, he received proton therapy at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “He didn’t complain at all.” Read his story on St. Jude Inspire.
Calvin C. was medically cleared to be on site to meet Zalatoris in person at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational; Calvin S. met Homa remotely.
Influencers also received “We Won’t Stop” shoes:
Andy Roddick; Kyle Rudolph; Jerome Bettis; Vince Carter; Adam Schefter; Alexandra O’Laughlin; Michael Breed; Matt Barrie; Ashley Mayo; Marty Smith; Drew Bledsoe; Chris Marve; Michael Collins; Michael Pena; Michael Strahan; Brett Young; Cole Swindell; Jake Owen; Luke Bryan; Ben Higgins.
“Outfit The Pit”:
Local artists Ebony Boyd and Anthony Lee were commissioned to design picnic tables for The Pit.
Both artists provided artistic expressions that blend the vibrant, rich, and soulful Memphis art scene with Memphis BBQ.
The art displayed on the picnic tables represent themes from the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the City of Memphis. Following the event, these picnic tables will be donated and enjoyed by local city golf courses, The Links at Fox Meadows and The Links at Audobon.
ShotLink Tech Talk:
Fifteen students studying information technology at LeMoyne-Owen College, a local HBCU, received a tour of the PGA TOUR ShotLink truck from Don Wallace, TOUR Vice President of ShotLink Operations.
100 Black Men of Memphis:
The local 100 Black Men of America chapter were recipients of a behind-the-scenes tour of the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, which included visits with PGA TOUR ShotLink, volunteer operations, media operations, player relations and corporate partnerships personnel before enjoying the tournament the rest of the day.
