DECEMBER 10, 2009 ISSUE
Giving a Little Benefits Many
Live United Volunteer Spotlight—Tom McAulliffe
Editor’s Note: High Country Press is supporting the High Country United Way’s Live United campaign by spotlighting volunteers in our community. For the duration of the series, volunteers come into our office, pick up their Live United T-shirt and tell High Country Press their views on volunteerism and what they contribute to the community while encouraging others to make a local impact, as well. This week, we focus on Tom McAuliffe, who donates proceeds of the All Saints Open to the High Country United Way.
Tom McAuliffe informs golfers who frequent the Sugar Mountain Golf Club of the work of the High Country United Way and encourages them to donate. Under his supervision, the proceeds of the annual All Saints Open have been given to the United Way for the past three years. “Because I don’t just wear the shirt, I live it.” Photo by Ken Ketchie
“Coach Jerry Moore told me and liked to say to anyone who would listen, ‘Achieve more than is expected of you,’” said Tom McAuliffe, golf director at Sugar Mountain Golf Club. “When it comes to volunteerism, I think ‘give more than expected’ doesn’t take a lot.”
One of his most rewarding experiences, he said, was working with the special education students of Newland Elementary in the Lees-McRae swimming pool before the program ended because of a lack of funding.
“They were so excited to play in the pool each week, and we tried to help them become better swimmers, but mostly to look out for each other and have a blast,” he said.
“We all can do more and it starts with just a little—and even a little means a lot to somebody,” McAuliffe said.
In 1978, McAuliffe began the All Saints Open, which is held annually on November 1 to celebrate the official end of the mountain golf season, he said, and this year marked the third year that proceeds have been given to the High Country United Way (HCUW).
“As participation [in the open] grew, we felt it was important to designate a worthwhile cause,” McAuliffe said, adding that the Village of Sugar Mountain makes the donation possible.
“If we have good weather, we raise $1,000,” he added.
Additionally, McAuliffe hands out pamphlets and encourages golfers to donate to the High Country United Way, and he has found the summer residents at Sugar Mountain to be very generous, he said.
“We’re working to educate our Florida retiree set, our second homeowners in particular, and let them know they can participate in the United Way back home and here in the mountains, too,” McAuliffe said. “Our local United Way’s low administrative costs and the fact that all funds raised stay right here in the mountains makes it easy to make the pitch.”
McAuliffe’s first direct contact with the HCUW came when he met Jenny Miller, former executive director, at an expo for United Way-supported agencies to write a profile for Carolina Mountain Life Magazine, he said.
The HCUW supports 24 nonprofit agencies in Avery and Watauga counties, and seeks to improve the quality of life in the areas of education, income and health.
“I gained an appreciation for Jenny’s selflessness, and in turn, for the folks manning the service agencies, whose only goal seemed to be to help their fellow man,” he said, adding that he has found Linda Slade, current HCUW executive director, to be “the same kind of human being as Jenny Miller.”
“Tom believes in helping his community and uses his love of golf to make things happen,” Slade said.
Regarding his volunteerism, McAuliffe said that he has “done very little compared to thousands of folks in the High Country who really get it—that people are hurt, frightened, hungry and cold—and are trying to do something about it every day.”
McAuliffe encouraged people to contribute what they can to benefit the community.
“It starts with just a little of your time,” he said.
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