Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh is celebrating the community for the success of the 7th Annual Drive Out Hunger golf outing, held at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary this month. The event raised over $80,000 and will support the organization’s five food pantries across Central and Eastern North Carolina in Durham, Raleigh, Greenville, Fayetteville, and Wilmington.  Combined, these pantries distribute over 5 million pounds of food annually and play a crucial role in combating food insecurity, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas where access to nutritious food is limited.

Lisa Perkins, CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support from participants. “Knowing that nearly 200 golfers came together to raise awareness and funds for the five food pantries throughout the Diocese of Raleigh is truly inspirational. I’m extremely grateful to each of you for sharing your time, enthusiasm, and resources as we further the mission of Catholic Charities here today,” said Perkins.

One golfer, new to the tournament this year, said it was the first time he’d stepped on a golf course this year. Mark Prokop said, “I figured now’s the perfect time and these are the things that God leads me to go do.”

The Drive Out Hunger golf outing has become a signature event for Catholic Charities, featuring a Captain’s Choice Tournament format that encourages camaraderie and friendly competition. Golfers enjoyed a light breakfast at check-in, boxed lunches on the course, and a cocktail reception following the tournament, making the day enjoyable and impactful.

The event fosters a sense of community and shared purpose said Catholic Diocese of Raleigh Bishop Luis Zarama. “It’s a good event to be together, and have fun together, but at the same time, it’s service with people giving very generously to feed people who are hungry. The beautiful lesson of all of this is service is fun.”

This year’s winning team having fun on the Meadows course was Mike Zvarich, Deb Kargl, Joey Kleha, and Steven Kovacs.  On the Fairways course, Corey Weidner, Jamie Roseborough, Paul Gensler, and Christian Long finished as first place champions.

As Catholic Charities continues to serve over 50,000 families each year through its traditional, choice, and mobile food pantries, the funds raised at this year’s golf outing will help the most vulnerable members of our communities receive the support they need.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, and those who benefit from Catholic Charities, we extend our deepest thanks to everyone who contributed to the tournament. Catholic Charities Board of Directors Vice-Chair Lionel Randolph said as we look to next year, we’ll re-examine community needs. “We’ll continue all the good work we’re doing now and continue trying to find new ways to engage the community and see what their needs are because everyone’s needs change from year to year.  We don’t want to get stagnant, so we always take time to renew, refresh, and get a different perspective.  Society changes at a fast pace and we need as an organization to be ready to change with it.”

The success of the 7th Annual Drive Out Hunger golf outing is a testament to the power of community and the shared commitment to the fight against hunger.