Sowing Seeds for Life Golf Tournament, Set for Sept. 22, Brings Showtime and More to La Verne

At last year's tournament, Laker Big Game James Worthy had the crowd in the palm of his hands.

   Imagine this: A charity golf tournament that attracted not one, not two, not three but four of the men on the list of the 50 greatest players in the history of the NBA. And that’s not all. Also present were three Dodger legends, an NCAA basketball championship-winning coach, a Rose Bowl-winning quarterback and other notables from the world of sports.
     That sums up the second annual Sowing Seeds for Life tournament held last October at Sierra La Verne Country Club. The third is scheduled for Thursday, Sept 22.
     Normally, the entry fee for such a star-studded tournament would be at least $500.But for the bargain price of $200, you too can rub shoulders with sports celebrities and, following tournament play, can also hear them be interviewed by a veteran sports journalist. You’ll have lots of amazing stories to tell your friends. .
     Last year’s tournament featured NBA legends Jerry West, James Worthy, Elgin Baylor and Bill Sharman, plus former Dodgers Bill Russell, Tommy Davis and Al Downing.  Also on hand were former UCLA basketball coach Jim Harrick, UCLA football and basketball play-by-play announcer Chris Roberts, a Glendora resident, and his broadcast  partner, former quarterback Matt Stevens, who led UCLA to a victory over Iowa in the 1987 Rose Bowl.
     Another former UCLA football star, Michael Young, a receiver who spent 10 years in the NFL, was also there. Young is now the Chief Revenue Officer of the Dodgers and he donated a Dodger package for the live auction that included four Dugout Club seats.
     Speaking of donations, West voluntarily donated his personal four Laker tickets to a game along with an autographed jersey. When asked to do it twice, he willingly agreed.

In his playing days, Jerry West was mainly known as a terrific scorer, now he knowns for his assists, helping out great organizations like Sowing Seeds for Life.

     Following an impressive live auction, West, Worthy, Harrick and Russell sat down for a 40-minute sports panel discussion conducted by Los Angeles Times sports columnist Bill Dwyre, the newspaper’s former sports editor.
     West revealed some of his inter-most demons involving a troubled childhood. He also talked about wanting to be remembered for his charitable work.
     Harrick revealed something few people know – that he and West played for rival high schools in West Virginia at the same time. They are the same age.
     Worthy was asked by Dwyre if he had ever considered coaching. “You have to have a real passion for coaching, and I didn’t have that kind of passion for coaching,” Worthy  said. “I did have that kind of passion for playing.”
     Russell talked about the famous Dodger infield of him, Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes and Ron Cey that was together for nearly a decade. “Because of free agency, I don’t think we’ll ever see that again,” he said.
     The panel discussion went on and on, and at one point Dwyre asked tournament coordinator Tim Haas if he should wrap things up. “No, no,” Haas said. “You can go on forever.” The audience, hanging on every word, applauded. They wanted more.
     Haas later told the audience, “I’ve been involved with charity golf tournament for more than 25 years. You’d be lucky to find one in 500 like this one.”
     The tournament committee is currently working on another star-studded lineup for this year’s event.
     Another positive about this tournament is the charity it benefits. Sowing Seeds for Life is a non-profit that provides food for people in difficult situations. Sowing Seeds for Life (SSFL) began distributing food in December 2007 to some 100 people a month in the La Verne area and now serves more than 7,000 a month.
     The driving force behind Sowing Seeds and the tournament is Vicki Brown, the charity’s CEO as well as the President and CEO of DPI Labs, a prominent multimillion dollar La Verne aerospace company. Brown will be honored at this year’s tournament for all she has done for the community. Brown literally planted the seeds that grew the charity and the tournament. Sowing Seeds For Life started out as a backyard garden project. “I’m just proud to be the one who watches all this happen,” she says modestly.
     

Who knows? Perhaps, golfers at this year's tournament might get to play along other Dodger greats.

 It is her hard work and dedication and her connections to the right people that has enabled her to accomplish so much. She is the one who assembled an energetic tournament committee headed by co-chairmen Tim Grant and Al Snow. Another key member is Greg DeSmet, the vice- president of DPI Labs and Brown’s former husband.
     This year’s best-ball scramble tournament will again have a noon shotgun start.  
      Haas, the president of Tournament Golf & Travel, coordinated the first two SSFL tournaments and has been brought back to again take care of details and make sure everything goes smoothly.
     Haas points out everyone can help with this project and help families in need of a good meal.
     “Putting together a foursome is one way but also contact friends, relatives and business associates – everyone you know – and let them know about this great event,” he said.
     Even non-golfers can contribute, Haas noted.
     “Be an event sponsor, purchase a tee or green sign, make a donation, donate a raffle or auction prize, purchase a helicopter golf ball drop ticket,” he said.
     At least a portion of most donations is tax deductible.
     For further information, go to www.sowingseedsforlife.org or contact Vicki Brown at 909 392-5777, ext. 213. Her e-mail address is vbrown@sowingseedsforlife.org. Also, Haas can be reached at 909 261-9617 or timhaastournamentgolf@yahoo.com.