The 9th Annual TESSA Charity Golf Tournament
The breathtaking view of Colorado’s Cheyenne Mountain made for a perfect backdrop to the 9th annual TESSA Golf Tournament held on Friday, August 19, 2022. The peace and tranquility of the Cheyenne Shadows Golf Course at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, matched the serenity that tournament participants hoped to bring to those seeking refuge at TESSA, a local non-profit organization that provides support to victims of domestic violence in Colorado.
For the past three years, JT4 has been the primary sponsor and coordinator for the annual fundraiser that was the brainchild of NSTTC Site Manager, Robert Nieves, long before he joined the J-Tech II Contract. Looking for a way to serve both his community and his company, he came up with the perfect event that combined teambuilding, giving back to the community and his favorite activity: golf. Teams of four compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, with additional accolades for the male and female who come closest to the pin or hit the longest drive. While the competition can get fierce, all participants have one collective goal—raise funds for a wonderful organization that provides critical support to those in need.
On any given day, the Colorado Springs Police Department receives approximately 35 domestic violence calls. Sadly, dozens of other situations likely go unreported. TESSA provides many essential services to victims of domestic abuse, including but not limited to:
- Maintaining a 24-Hour emergency safe line to help develop safety plans and connect victims to vital community services when there is a crisis situation.
- Providing a safe house with emergency shelter, food, case management and counseling.
- Assisting victims with navigating the criminal justice system through legal counsel and options for a path to recovery and protection.
- Offering referrals to therapeutic services that work on self-esteem and provide education on relationships, goal setting and problem solving.
- Arranging for services that establish training programs and assist children who have witnessed domestic violence.
Thanks to the organizational team at JT4, this year’s tournament set new records for both number of participants and funds raised. A total of 124 golfers were split into 31 teams of four. The registration fees from participants, many of whom were JT4 employees or otherwise connected to the J-Tech II Contract, along with proceeds generated from various raffles and corporate sponsorships from companies like hosts JT4 and Frontier Technologies, Inc., resulted in a $18,490 donation to TESSA to continue its important work.
“At JT4, we feel humbled to have this opportunity to assist this incredible organization that has such an impact in our community,” says Robert who is always looking for ways to improve both the tournament and its turnout. That’s why next year’s 10th annual event will have a change of venue. “We are very excited to announce that next year we will be moving our golf tournament to the Eisenhower Golf Course at the Air Force Academy.” The Eisenhower Golf Course is ranked one of the best military base courses in the country and provides a fitting nod to the tournament’s primary sponsor and the customer it supports.
Planning for next year’s tournament is already underway. It is scheduled for August 25, 2023 and the JT4 committee hopes to make the event the best “non-golfers golf tournament in the city.” With enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers like Robert and his team, there is no doubt they will succeed. ////