Today we’d like to introduce you to John Grayson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Everyone knows someone that has been diagnosed with cancer. My mother passed away in 2010 and my aunt in 2016 from the disease. In the case of my mother, after taking some time to grieve I started to get the itch to fight back. It made me angry that something so significant happened to my family and I was just sitting on my hands being upset. My mother fought cancer on 3 different occasions, so following her lead, it was my time to fight.
I started thinking about how I could make a difference. A big reason for my motivation to get involved was because a group of girls I went to high school with participated in the Susan G. Komen 3 day walk. They called themselves the “Babes for Boobs”. Their interest in the walk inspired me to do something too. So many of the girls I grew up with, were raising money and participating in the walk, it was my turn to get involved, especially having been affected by it myself. What a motivating crew.
My next step was to start contacting my guy friends. I sent an email out to Michael Witort and Matt Davis and we got to work on the outing. We went over ideas like a softball tournament and a bar crawl, but we wanted to do something different and more upscale. My mother loved to entertain and I wanted to homage to her so I decided that this had to be a first-class event because Sandra would never throw a bad party.
The guys and I decided on a golf outing, recruited the Babes (Sam Martin, Jori Appleberry, Christina Romano, Brigitte Trindl, Sarah Kohler. Kate Begani and Dana Sponholz) and added my sister Jessica to complete the crew. Now, we were off to run an outing!
Over the years, we’ve had hundreds of people attend, raised thousands of dollars and we are looking forward to continuing the fight against cancer. It really is a fight and every year we try and knock it out with one awesome outing!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Planning a golf outing is like planning a wedding every year. Table settings, food, alcohol, balloons, what are we wearing, are all of the things that run through our meetings every year. When I sent the first email to everyone about the outing I wanted to make sure the golf outing was not just a couple of buddies drinking beer on the course. Paying attention to all the details and making this a first-class event, was and still is so important. Additionally making sure people actually show up is always stressful. Our team makes all of this possible. Everyone contributes, but usually, right around St. Patricks day, Sam Martin starts the outing pestering. She is instrumental in increasing outing attendance. Expect a text, a facebook tag or an in-person conversation about the outing if you see her. Sam makes sure the golfers show up, she’s a hustler. I say it every single year, but the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts when it comes to our outing!
Sandra Grayson Memorial Golf Outing – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
In 2012, we had our first golf outing and wanted to make it a FUN way to celebrate and remember my mother and also raise money to fight cancer. Our outing is a scramble and a shotgun start. It is tournament style. The winning group gets its name on a trophy and wins an award. We have awards for best dressed, best selfie, longest drive, closest to the pin and the straightest drive. We also have a chipping game that gets really competitive.
We specialize in raising money to fight cancer. We have donated all of the proceeds to different cancer foundations because cancer comes in so many forms.
I am most proud of the continued support. Every year people come back. It seems like every year we have new people participating and someone comes up to me and says, “I’ll be back every year.” When we first started, I didn’t know if anybody would show. Now we’re planning year 6! Hundreds and hundreds of people, young and old, have shown up every year. It has been amazing to see the support from the community. That is what I am most proud of: the support of the community. There is really a sense of community that was established andits has remained.
Our outing is pretty similar to others, but what sets our outing apart from others is you get real bang for your buck. We provide a GREAT meal made by Seven Bridges Golf club and there is no shortage of drinks. Eat, drink, and fight cancer.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Personally, I define success by how many people show up and making sure all 18 holes are sponsored. My favorite moment every year is when the golf carts pull out to go to their respective holes. It’s amazing to see all of the people from different parts of our lives. People that never met my mother, or me in some instances, showing up to work together and fight cancer. That is the best part. One year we had a guy show up as a solo. He found us online and said he wanted to be a part of the fight. That was so cool! The amount of money we raise fluctuates by year, some years are better than others, but the amount of people that show up to work for one common goal is the most amazing part. It’s humbling to see.
Pricing:
- Golf Ticket – $150
- Dinner Ticket – $50
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.sandragraysongolf.com
- Email: SandraGraysonGolf@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Sarah Crost Photography, Dana Ann Photography, Olga and Jose Photography, Sarah Sniegowski
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