The 4th Annual Jessica Erstad “Not So Serious” Women’s Golf Outing united the women of Orange County in the fight against child abuse on June 19, 2007.  This year’s event, hosted by Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda, raised more than $77,000 to benefit the Child Abuse Prevention Center’s Bridges for Newborns program.

This 9-hole, ladies only event is unique in Orange County and its loyal following keeps avid and amateur golfers returning year after year.  The whimsical “Christmas in June” theme guaranteed fun and festivity on the course, just as the event’s main sponsors, Bank of America, Deloitte., Morgan Stanley, Pacific Jeanswear and Robertson, Griege and Thoele helped ensure the event’s success.

"I think this year was our most fun event so far!  The ladies truly had such a fantastic time." , says Jessica Erstad, whose husband Darin played a key role in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s success and now is playing for the Chicago White Sox.  "We are so fortunate to have such an amazing group of women and sponsors that come together for a great cause.  I just can't thank them enough."

The links were beautifully set against a wildlife preserve where an occasional rabbit joined in the fun and hawks observed the entertainment below.  The ladies were encouraged to relax and
have fun as they putted with giant candy canes at one hole and hit jingle bells instead of golf balls at another.  Tee prizes and refreshments prevailed at every hole, before the ladies returned to the clubhouse for cocktails, dinner and silent and live auctions, where a trip to Hawaii raised over $8,000.

“These women, and Jessica in particular, help us reach people in very vulnerable situations where our programs are the most effective.  Their participation in the tournament is wonderfully generous and much appreciated,” comments the Prevention Center’s Executive Director, Scott Trotter.

All proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the Prevention Center’s Bridges for Newborns program.  Bridges offers new parents a support system to help ease the adjustment following the birth of a new baby.  As a part of the Prevention Center’s In-Home Parent Empowerment Programs, Bridges delivers critically-needed newborn care education, from bonding and attachment with your baby to development milestones, to struggling families in their own homes. At the heart of these programs is intensive, weekly one-on-one educational sessions designed to interrupt the cycle of abuse and keep families together.

The Child Abuse Prevention Center is dedicated to serving at-risk children and families with programs that break the generational cycle of child abuse and family violence. The Prevention Center’s early intervention programs have well-documented records of strengthening and improving parent-child relationships and working to prevent abuse before it occurs.  Since 1983, the Prevention Center has served more than 165,000 Orange County residents – including 17,000 children and 6,400 families in the last year alone. 

Shelly Gerber, Shelly Larez, Kathleen McClemmy and		The Kerry & Mary Show are all smiles
Jennifer Hudler		as they hitt the links.
The Sue O'Shea foursome pauses play for photo opportunity.
Sponsored By
Jan Jewell ♦ Mary Johnson ♦ Sue O'Shea ♦ Pacific Jeanswear ♦ Jennifer Stai ♦ Morgan Stanley ♦ Kerry Wurzelbacher