Thanks the generosity of PGA TOUR professional golfer J.B. Holmes, as well as select other members of the East Lake Golf Club, more than $84,000 has been pledged this week to support the ongoing, transformative work of the East Lake Foundation.
 
Known as the “84 for 84” campaign, the funds are being given in honor of the 84 graduating seniors at the Drew Charter Academy. This class completes the cradle-to-college educational pipeline first envisioned by Tom Cousins and other community leaders when the foundation was initially formed.
 
“You see all the good work they've done in just this area and this community,” said Holmes. “I had a U.S. Open qualifier when I was in high school down here at East Lake. Let's just say it was a rough area around the golf course. It's very awesome to see they've put a lot of work into and helping the community be able to achieve. The school has done great, great things, and being able to get kids to go to college and give them a proper education.

“Any time you see any foundation or whatever that's getting really good results and doing all the right things, you definitely want to help them.”
 
The Drew Charter School Senior Academy opened in 2014 and completed the school’s “cradle-to-college” education mission. Drew Charter is ranked first among all Atlanta Public Schools elementary schools and third among its middle schools.
 
“We are so appreciative of the ongoing support from the East Lake Golf Club and from PGA TOUR players like J.B. Holmes,” said Danny Shoy, executive director of the East Lake Foundation. “This always is a special week for the East Lake Foundation, enabling us to share our story of community empowerment with a global audience. It’s because of the generosity of our strongest supporters that we can continue to strive to deliver hope to East Lake.”

I've been very fortunate in my life to be able to play a game for a living. I absolutely want to give back and help people that want to help themselves. Obviously, these kids out here definitely are working really hard to change their life. You always want to reward hard work, people working hard and striving to do the right thing.