While his playing career -- and most certainly his personal life -- plays out on television sets and in headlines the world over, Tiger Woods has done a large amount of charity work for years, primarily through the work of his Tiger Woods Foundation.
And earlier this month, Woods once again donated his time to support a cause, only this required no money, and the beneficiary was a bullied teen who reportedly recently tried to kill himself.
Former LPGA Tour pro Sophie Gustafson in April shared with Golf Digest's Ron Sirak the story of the teen, a friend of Gustafson who, like the golfer, struggled with stuttering. Among the stories Gustafson told Sirak was how the boy, named Dillon, overcame his anxieties about his stuttering to join the football team, only to subsequently quit the team after teasing about his stuttering.
According to the story, Dillon's mother shared the following in an email to Gustafson:
"On the week of April 16th, he had a bad week, he had been teased about his stuttering. That evening, he attempted suicide. He yelled downstairs 'Good bye, I love you.' Me and my husband immediately ran upstairs, his bedroom door was locked, we busted down the door and he was sitting on the window and was getting ready to jump. We were able to grab him and keep him from going head first onto the concrete below."
So Sirak wrote the story of Gustafson and Dillon, who is a Woods fan, to call on golfers to help combat bullying.
"I’m very proud of Sophie, and very grateful that she shared this story with me. Golf cannot change the world, but golfers can," Sirak wrote. "Bullying is a serious problem. Join Sophie and me in shouting with one united, clear voice that we will not tolerate our children being treated that way. Let’s give this boy, and millions like him, something to look forward to."
And indeed, one golfer in particular did something for Dillon.
Thanks so much @TigerWoods for sending my friend Dillon a letter. He got so happy! It's being framed and hanged. #class
— Sophie Gustafson (@SophieGustafson) May 10, 2015
@RyanBallengee Yes he is. Small steps but he really appreciates all support that has been shown for him
— Sophie Gustafson (@SophieGustafson) May 10, 2015
The Tiger Woods Foundation, which raises money primarily through golf tournaments, corporate partnerships and private donations, reportedly raises more than $50 million annually and has handed out nearly $100 million in scholarships, directs most of its money and efforts to better the lives of children.
Woods and his foundation are actually a model for charity endeavors in the sports world, regularly receiving high marks from charity watchdogs.
H/t: The Score
