Playworks Brings Back Footgolf & Raises $23K to Help Local Kids

Photo is of the winning team from The Standard.

Portland, OR. After a few years’ hiatus, Playworks Pacific Northwest brought back a fan favorite, Footgolf. A combination of golf and soccer, the Footgolf event brought out close to 100 participants and 20 teams battling for the win while raising awareness about the organization’s impact on elementary schools across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

The event took place at Glendoveer Golf Course on May 22nd. The winning team was a group of employees from The Standard (seen above). Raising a total of $23K, donations will help Playworks continue to create a space on the playground for every kid to feel included and build valuable social skills.

Playworks has supported schools by working to keep kids playing virtually and in hybrid settings while helping to prepare for when they return to full-time in-person instruction.

Playworks creates spaces for every kid to feel included and build valuable social skills by leveraging the power of play.

Footgolf is a family-friendly event to raise awareness of Playworks Pacific Northwest’s impact on elementary schools across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska.

FootGolf (sometimes referred to as, “soccer golf”) is a combination of the popular sports of soccer and golf. The game is played with a regulation #5 soccer ball at a golf course facility on shortened holes with 21-inch diameter cups. The rules largely correspond to the rules of golf. This sport is a relatively new concept (since 2008), and is being played at golf courses throughout the world.

Playworks Pacific Northwest, a leading non-profit organization founded in 1996, leverages the power of play to transform children’s social and emotional health throughout Oregon, Washington and Idaho schools through year-round, and on-site support services, creating healthy environments for kids through recess. Through Playworks programs, they reduce bullying and enable social-emotional learning by leveraging the power of safe, fun, and healthy play at school every day. Creating a place for every kid on the playground to feel included, be active, and build valuable social and emotional skills, Playworks is helping grow healthy and happy youth. Over the 2020/2021 school year, Playworks is providing two school districts-seven total schools, across Oregon and Washington, with direct services, impacting the lives of 3,150 kids daily. Additionally, the non-profit has impacted more than 18,450 kids in the past 8 months through professional development training and digital support services across the region. Plaworks has provided services in 15 school districts across Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska and impacts over 21,850 students and more than 960 staff/teachers annually.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.