Putting to the Green 

The Salvation Army of Cape Fear’s annual fundraising golf tournament supports construction of the organization’s Center of Hope, a 20,500 square-foot facility located on 22 acres off Martin Luther King Drive in the Creekwood neighborhood of Wilmington, opposite the airport.

“The first year of the golf tournament raised $43,000. Over its 13 years it has raised $1.4 million,” says Bobby Benson, Advisory Board member and chairman of the Golf Committee.

Expected to be completed by May or June 2025, the facility will serve families and men and women from New Hanover, Bladen, Brunswick and Columbus counties, providing 75 beds. 

“We hope to help people from Creekwood with our services in addition to the homeless,” says Major Ken Morris, Corps Officer, Salvation Army Cape Fear.

The center will have separate sides for men and women and an additional wing to house families.

“We will be able to handle maybe five to eight families, depending on their size,” Morris says.

Life-skills programs will be offered, including time management, money management, anger management, how to prepare for a job, and skills they need to move into stable housing.

One hundred percent of the money raised from the golf tournament will go to the Center of Hope shelter.

“The golfers bring in funds for our wonderful project,” says Morris.

The mission of the Salvation Army Cape Fear (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization) is “to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His name without discrimination, offering help and support in southeastern North Carolina.”