On March 8, THE PLAYERS and Birdies for the Brave partnered with Operation Shower to host a baby shower for 40 military moms-to-be at TPC Sawgrass.
The shower, in collaboration with the PGA TOUR, took place at the Birdies for the Brave Patriots’ Outpost, a hospitality tent reserved for the military during the week of the tournament.
A decorate-your-own onesie station welcomed the moms and their families into the “Sea to Shining Sea”-themed shower, filled with a variety of food and an impeccable dessert station with delicate chocolates, pastries and a “Shining Sea” decorative cake for all.
Special guests featured singer-songwriter Patrick Davis, who performed for the military families during the shower, and PGA TOUR player Jim Furyk and his wife Tabitha, who run the Furyk Foundation and helped organize the event.
“When they go home, their husbands sometimes aren’t there,” Tabitha Furyk said. “And this time, we had 10 girls here that were active military, themselves, all from mixed bases.”
And to show her gratitude, commander and executive officer at the Mayport Naval Station, Patricia Tyler, spoke, honored and congratulated every military mother, whether on active duty, a veteran or the wife of a deployed member.
“When you serve, you serve,” she said. “It’s indiscriminate what’s happening with your lives and with your families. So, I want to tell you, thank you. Having been where all of you are, you are what matters, and organizations like Operation Shower, they’re telling us, you, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your service.”
Games and a trivia contest kept guests on their toes until the end of the shower, with the winning table receiving a gift bag of surprises. Every mommy-to-be went home with dozens of gifts, such as a giant robe, stuffed animals, baby clothes, a Diaper Genie and more.
“It’s just a great support system,” Tabitha Furyk said. “It’s amazing to be able to bring them all together, supply them with things they need and say thank you for all they do.”
Photos by Daniela Toporek – Photos from most to least important
