Jim Moss 8/26/07 pullout at bottom

By Debbie Robinson

news@joplinglobe.com

LAMAR, Mo. — Golf balls rained over Lamar City Park on Sunday afternoon to raise money for an organization that works to prevent child abuse and domestic violence.

This was the second year for the fund-raising project to benefit Barceda Families, a nonprofit organization founded in 1997.

A helicopter hovered about 100 feet off the ground over a baseball field as 4,785 golf balls were released before a crowd of about 75 people. The three golf balls closest to the flagstick resulted in prizes donated by area merchants.

Michelle Crockett, assistant director of Barceda Families, said about $14,000 was raised from the sale of tickets, doubling last year’s sales. Tickets were sold for $3 each or four for $10.

More than 50 businesses and companies bought tickets and gave them to their employees, Crockett said.

“We’re a grant-funded organization, and these funds pay for those things that the grants do not cover,” she said.

Crockett said the organization was founded by a group in Greenfield with an initial grant from the Children’s Trust Fund.

“They saw there was a problem with child abuse in the area,” she said.

The organization works with state agencies, hospitals, schools and mental-health agencies.

With a staff of 11, the organization serves residents in Barton, Cedar, Dade, Hickory, Polk, Dallas and Vernon counties. About 5,000 students and adults are involved in the parenting program, and 225 families participate in other programs, Crockett said.

“It’s very rewarding to know we’re making a difference in the lives of people in the communities,” she said.