ORANGE, Calif. ( Oct. 14, 2004) – Laughter, not low score, was the name of the game at the First Annual “Not So Serious” Women’s Golf Tournament benefiting the Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center . Chaired by Jessica Erstad, wife of Anaheim Angel Darin Erstad, the exclusive charity event sold out three weeks before the scheduled October 4, 2004 tournament. The event attracted 72 female business and community leaders from around the county and raised $30,000 to support the Prevention Center ’s “Bridges for Newborns” program, which will allow 160 families currently on waiting lists to receive the help they need.

The inaugural women’s tournament, which was held at the Aliso Creek Inn and Golf Course in Laguna Beach , Calif. , included nine holes of play, dinner, live and silent auctions, and an awards ceremony.

Kent French, production manager for the Mighty Ducks, served as Master of Ceremonies, awarding prizes for lowest score, longest drive, closest to the pin and “best dressed.” French also filled the role of auctioneer, helping raise more than $12,000 on live and silent auction items.

According to Jessica Erstad, the shorter nine-hole course left the ladies plenty of energy for spirited bidding wars on an assortment of live auction items – including two signed Erstad bat and ball combinations that sold for nearly $1,000 each.

“Everyone had so much fun,” said Erstad. “The camaraderie of the women who played and their passion for the cause of child abuse prevention was phenomenal. We just have to do this again!”

A serious note amidst the evening’s festivities came from 22-year-old Sandra Magallon – a former panelist from the Prevention Center ’s Teen Voices, Teen Choices pregnancy prevention program – who spoke to tournament participants about her struggles as a teen mother beginning at age 13. Her story connected the lighthearted fun of the day to the real reason everyone was there: to help bring an end to child abuse, domestic violence and teen pregnancy in Orange County .

“The women who played today did not come just to have fun,” said Kathy McCarrell, executive director of the Prevention Center . “They understand that child abuse is a serious problem that exists even here in Orange County , and it cannot be swept under the rug. They understand how empowering it is to know that you are making a difference in the lives of local children and families.”

Michelle Chiou, president of Pacific Jeanswear Inc., was honored as the tournament’s Caring Heart Sponsor, with additional support from: Kind Heart sponsors Angels Baseball and Deloitte; and Baby Heart Sponsors Kohler & Associates and WalkStyles.

Now celebrating its 20th year in operation, the Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center is committed to breaking the generational cycle of child abuse, domestic violence and teen pregnancy in Orange County . The Prevention Center ’s six different early intervention programs have a well-documented record of strengthening and improving parent-child relationships, working to prevent abuse before it occurs. Since 1984, the Prevention Center has served more than 136,000 Orange County residents – including 13,000 children and 5,500 families in the last year alone.

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The Child Abuse Prevention Center is a 501 (c)(3) Public Benefit Corporation. 
All contributions to the event shall not be subject to any donor restrictions. 
Child Abuse Prevention Center Tax ID #33-0013237