CAMM Golf Tourney A Success
Ron Bailey, Publisher
September 27, 2007 – Last Sunday, the Marlborough Golf Course hosted the first annual Curtis and Monica Malone Charitable Foundation’s (CAMM) golf tournament. Known nationally as the Director of DC Assault - a high-powered youth basketball organization - Curtis has been a fixture on the national AAU/travel team boy’s hoops scene for almost 15 years. What’s not known is the reach of the Malone’s - including wife Monica’s - philanthropic efforts.
Marlborough Golf Course's idyllic 6th hole.
Given DC Assault’s stature in their lives and the commitment the Malone’s continuously show it, its obvious that helping people is central to their lives: Sponsoring teams spanning 10 through 17 and under, Assault travels the nation in search of top competition. In the course of doing so, not only are young people’s basketball skills improved and the likelihood of college scholarships being received increased, but a larger world is shown to many kids who otherwise wouldn’t be exposed to it at that age.
This event though, was designed to help a seperate, unrelated, and frankly more important effort, as the proceeds of the tournament are earmarked to help fight Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a disease that hits home for the Malone family. “It’s a very gratifying aspect” of holding the tournament, said Monica Malone, “to help the community…Having a child close to us afflicted with SMA” only increases their sense making a difference.
The winning team, who prevailed with a score in the 50's playing best ball, with Monica Malone in the rear.
That connection is through Lisa Couser – whose child has SMA - a woman Monica established as not only close to the DC Assault program, but also a dear friend.
“Many times people support foundations based on who they are” opined Malone, and as such Curtis’ stature in the hoops world was used to benefit the plight of those who may not otherwise receive such support.
Participating in the tournament were college coaches from all over the country, including Kansas State, Virginia, West Virginia, William and Mary, Morgan State, Maryland, Fordham, Towson State, and a host of others, in addition to Washington, DC area high school and AAU coaches. Program leaders such as Todd Bozeman, Dave Leitao, and Bob Huggins actively participated in the tourney, as did a slew of assistant coaches.
Bobby Huggins of WVU, and Morgan State's Todd Bozeman.
Malone was pleased. “I was really pleased, and so happy to see all the coaches show up” she said, with provision of financial support to combat SMA’s effects a direct result.
Additionally, sponsors such as Adidas, Outback Steakhouse, and Perennial Strategy, Sports Entertainment, and Law should be lauded for their work, as well as the event’s site, the Marlborough Golf Course.
That facilities owner, Hercules Pitts, was glad to be of service. “That’s the kind of thing we try to do” said Pitts, who also owns the neighboring Lake Arbor Golf Course. “And for a group of that size, we definitely wanted to put out our best for them”.
That they did, as did all the participants, and sponsors. Monica Malone pledged next year’s CAAM charity golf spectacular will be even better, and more beneficial to charity. There is no doubt it will.
Curtis Malone (center) and participants.