[KHTS] – At the Tournament Players Club in Valencia, 125 golfers and supporters of the SCV Youth Project gathered for the inaugural Golf Classic on Thursday.

The Youth Project hosts several fundraisers every year, including the popular Sweet Charity Cake Auction, Hold ‘Em Not Hassle ‘Em poker tournament and Comics for the Cause.

This year they added the Golf Classic after RE/MAX of Santa Clarita expressed interest in doing a fundraiser.

Kathy Watterson, real estate agent with RE/MAX, said that the organizers were pleased with the turnout.

Three weeks ago, they only had about 80 players registered, she said, but that number grew to 125 by Thursday.

The Southland Regional Association of Realtors SCV Division also sponsored the event. The SRAR had held a golf classic for many years, and this year they were pleased to bring it back to support the Youth Project.

“I think everybody is really happy to see it at TPC,” said Nancy Starczyk, president of SRAR and past president of the Youth Project board of directors.

In addition to an 18-hole scramble golf tournament, the event also featured an appearance by two Lakers Girls, raffle and silent auction prizes, a buffet and special Nike sale, with $50 worth of merchandise for every player.

The event kicked off at 9 a.m., as the rows of golf carts left and golfers prepared to try their skills on the course at TPC.

Mike Bjorkman, one of the golfers, said that he was happy to contribute to the cause.

“Kim Goldman runs the SCV Youth Project like a champ,” he said. “I’m proud to be part of all of her events.”

Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in hole-in-one and longest drive contests.

“Thank you for giving of your time today,” wrote Renee Kaehny in the event program, “although you may have thought you were just playing a round of golf or sponsoring a hole… to us, you did a lot more than that. Today, you made a difference in the life of a teenager in need and we appreciate that, wholeheartedly.”

About the SCV Youth Project

The Youth Project is a school-linked, nonprofit organization assisting teens with issues they face on a daily basis such as depression, suicide, drug/alcohol abuse, pregnancy, bullying, peer pressure, domestic violence, sexual assault, neglect, divorce, blended families, motivation, goal setting, study skills, self-harm, healthy relationships, sexual identity and truancy.

Their mission is to provide a safe, nurturing environment where teens and their families are strengthened, empowered and equipped with the tools they need to live successful and healthy lives.