4 days ago
4th annual HEARTest Yard Celebrity Golf Classic
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – The HEARTest Yard Foundation was established in 2013 after Greg and Kara Olsen's son TJ was born with congenital heart disease.
The Olsen's have used their platform to help other families dealing with some of the same challenges.
'Year in and year out the support that we get, the amount of people that fly in from all over the country to come to this event just speaks about their commitment to our cause. Their commitment to our heart families and for that we're very grateful,' said former Carolina Panthers Tight End Greg Olsen.
Now in its fourth year, the second time at Kiawah, Greg hosted former teammates. other athletes and celebs for the HEARTest Yard Celebrity Golf Classic.
Olsen helped lead block for running back Jonathan Stewart with the Cats. J-Stew in awe of how Greg leads his family and others in the Carolina's.
'HIm and his wife, the way they give, give, give with no expectation of getting anything back in return is the way everyone else should be,' Stewart said.
The HEARTest Yard offers a lot of resources including a clinic in Charlotte that will see 50 to 60,000 patients a year.
Here in Charleston, at MUSC's Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, doctors perform 500 surgery's a year on children born with heart defects.
'There are now more people living with congenital heart disease that are adults than children. Which marks the fact that weve done a really great job. And it's fundraising events like this that have really made a difference,' siad Andy Atz, the chair of the dept. of pediatrics at MUSC.
Greg Olsen was a difference maker for the Panthers at the tight end position, his thousand yard seasons and trips to the Pro Bowl speak for themselves.
But the work his family has done to help others resonates a little louder.
'The families that we meet, the impact that we're able to make through the Heartest Yard and through our work both up in Charlotte in North Carolina, and obviously here for the last couple of years in South Carolina,' said Olsen. 'Hopefully this is what everyone remembers and really appreciates because it's something we truly love and its something we great pride in we're thankful we get the opportunity to do it.'
Monday's golf event will raise between $300,000-$400,000 with all the proceeds staying right here in the Lowcountry.
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