BLUE DEVILS GOLF TEAMS RAISE $26,322 IN SECOND YEAR OF BIRDIES FOR BABIES

Duke Women's Golf team raised $10,565 in first year of program 

In the second year of Birdies for Babies, the Duke Men’s and Women’s Golf programs have more than doubled the $10,500.00 mark of earnings for the Duke Children’s Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units from the opening year of the program in 2017-18. The grand total raised following the 2018-19 season was $26,322.75. Duke Women's Golf inaugurated Birdies for Babies in 2017, with the men's team joining the following year. Team member and graduating senior Virginia Elena Carta conceived the idea. 

“We are so very grateful to the Duke Women’s and Men’s Golf teams for raising awareness and support for the smallest patients at Duke Children’s,” said Amy Deshler, Senior Executive Director for Duke Children’s and Duke Cancer Center Development.  “Many thanks to the players, coaching staffs, sports information directors and generous donors who helped us more than double our total raised last season.  We have amazing student athletes here at Duke!  A special thank you to Virginia Elena Carta for her vision and leadership for Birdies for Babies.  From all of us at Duke Children’s, congratulations to both teams for a great season and to the women’s golf team for yet another National Championship.”

Notably, in a total team effort, the Duke Women’s Golf program won its seventh NCAA Championship as the Blue Devils came-from-behind to take down Wake Forest, 3-2, at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas on May 22. Following their championship, Blue Devils head coach Dan Brooks received another National Coach of the Year accolade from Golfweek.  

Those supporting Duke’s partnership with Duke Children’s made pledges per birdie for the fall 2018 and spring 2019 seasons. Pledges started at $0.50 and high pledge increments were welcomed. When the Blue Devils registered an eagle (counts as two birdies), albatross (three birdies) and hole-in-one (four birdies) they were counted as stated. Each pledge received an autographed photo of the Duke women’s and men’s golf teams. One-time donations to the program were also accepted.