NFL Player Holds Fundraiser in Brooklyn Center
Saturday night, hundreds of golf club swinging guests made their way to Brooklyn Center’s newest entertainment venue, Topgolf.
That includes a certain Cardinal who flew in from Arizona.
“You know, Topgolf here in the Twin Cities has been the rave,” said Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals. “I hear about it even down in Arizona about the turnout here. Even in the cold winter months, people are still out here enjoying themselves.”
Fitzgerald is a Minnesota native, but this visit to Brooklyn Center was about much more than swinging a golf club.
In 2003, Larry’s mother, Carol, died from breast cancer. In the 15 years since her death, the Fitzgerald family has honored her memory by establishing a foundation to help support causes she believed in. Namely, fighting HIV and breast cancer, and helping to fund urban education programs.
Saturday night was the key fundraising event for the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund.
“She left an unbelievable legacy, and to be able to stand here now, 15 years strong, being a part of something that can honor my mom, it means a great deal to us,” Fitzgerald said.
A silent auction and the chance to golf alongside a future pro football hall of famer were some of the big draws for those who came out Saturday night.
“It’s been impactful. Not just here, but all over the country,” said Dr. Stephanie Johnson-Brown, referring to the money raised from the memorial fund.
Brown is Carol’s sister. She makes the trip from Chicago every year to honor the woman who had a passion for serving others.
“I mean, she would give the last thing she owned away to help somebody,” Brown said. “She had the gift of giving, so she loved people and people loved her.”
Now, even 16 years after Carol’s death, people still show their love to keep her memory alive.
“People continue to come back to support it, which is no easy feat when there’s so many different things and so many wonderful charities to give to,” Fitzgerald said. “And it just shows that it means something, to have that kind of support.”
