JACKSON, MISS. – March 24, 2023: Friends of Children’s Hospital raised $71,000 at its first-ever Clays for Kids sporting clay tournament on Thursday, March 23, 2023.

Twenty-nine registered teams and 116 shooters participated in the tournament, which was held at Providence Hill Farm in Jackson. The action-packed day included a catered lunch donated by Aplos, afternoon shoot, reception, and awards ceremony.

First South Farm Credit, a financial cooperative providing lending and financial services for country living and ag purposes throughout Mississippi, was the tournament’s Presenting Sponsor.

“Special thanks go out to First South as well as every corporate sponsor, team and individual player who joined us at our Clays for Kids tournament and made the event not only a lot of fun but a huge success,” said Friends of Children’s Hospital Board Chairman John Scarbrough.

Team “Triples C’s” took home the prize of Highest Overall Team with a score of 200 out of a possible 208. John Lindigrin of Vicksburg, who participated on the Triple C’s team, earned the tournament’s title of Highest Overall Shooter with a near perfect score of 51.

When asked what drew the winning team to the clay shoot, team member Hunter Boyer replied it was his 4-year-old son, Brooks, who was a patient at Children’s of Mississippi after a recent scare that required emergency surgery and a stay in the hospital.

“It’s incredibly rewarding knowing every dollar raised from today’s event will be poured directly back into the children’s hospital, where everyday kids like Brooks will receive life-changing care,” said Friends of Children’s Hospital Executive Director Caitlin Foreman.

A key component to the success of the event was volunteer recruitment. Presenting Sponsor Paul Moak Honda stepped up in a big way, providing half of the tournament’s required volunteer manpower. “We were grateful to have so many caring, compassionate volunteers out there to help us carry out our mission,” said Foreman. “None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our volunteers and donors.”

Funds raised at the Clay for Kids tournament help support critical children’s hospital projects–both big and small–that not only provide an extra caring touch for the patients and their family members but also support updated hospital and clinic facilities, patient services and more.