On Sunday, May 6, the PGA Tour and Birdies for the Brave joined Operation Shower at TPC Sawgrass to host a group baby shower for 39 military moms-to-be.
Hosted by Jim and Tabitha Furyk, the Main Street USA-themed event held at the Patriots’ Outpost and sponsored by United Rentals provided the moms-to-be with a chance to connect with each other, receive gifts and ultimately feel appreciated for their respective sacrifices.
“This is a very, very special day for us,” said Tabitha Furyk. “It’s a small thank you to you, but it means the world to us to have such a strong military presence in Jacksonville. We appreciate you being here and sharing this moment with us.”
Some of the soon-to-be moms in attendance were active duty military, while others have deployed spouses. All were showered with boxes upon boxes of high-quality products provided by sponsors and donors, including Operation Shower’s signature Shower-In-A-Box.
“It means a lot,” said Mallory Collins, a mom-to-be who is expecting in August and whose husband is based at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia. “It’s helpful to receive a lot of things.”
The eighth annual event preceding THE PLAYERS Championship also featured a series of games, such as Bingo, in which the moms-to-be all ended up taking home gifts and prizes. Local military leadership was also in attendance to recognize the women, including Capt. David Yoder, the commanding officer of Naval Station Mayport.
This was the 59th shower the PGA Tour has conducted with Operation Shower, which has honored more than 5,000 military moms-to-be since 2007. Overall, the event represented Operation Shower’s 106th shower.
“Today is all about you,” said Amy Belle Isle, chief creative officer of Operation Shower. “We hope it’s filled with joy, and that you leave feeling more connected, appreciated and that your baby shower is a dream come true.”
