For many of the professional entertainers and sports figures who were on St. Thomas over the weekend taking part in the 4th annual Beacon Schools Celebrity Golf Tournament, the motivation for donating their time was rooted in their own childhood experiences.
As they gathered around a conference room table at the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort on the eve of Sunday's benefit touranement, they shared some of those reasons they were willing to help children in the Virgin Islands.
"I'm from Harlem, New York, born and raised," actor Mehki Phifer, who appeared in the movie I Still Know What You Did Last Night, said. "I think that how I was able to be so involved in a lot of different things is that I was involved in the community center — Children's Aid Society, Frederick Douglass — ever since I was 7 years old."
Singer Shanice Wilson talked about her first recording contract at the age of 11 and the love of music and compassion she inherited from her mother. "We didn't have money at all," she said. "We were on welfare. . . I'll never forget where I came from; so, I love helping others."
Most of the singers, athletes and television actors who met the press Saturday said their willingness to support community initiatives such as Beacon Schools is an outgrowth of their experiences as children with their parents and other adult role models.
Actress Mari Morrow said her community connections began when her mother began organizing neighborhood talent shows. "When she was a school teacher and growing up, she used to throw talent shows to raise funds for scholarships," Morrow recalled. "She would put me in the shows, and I would sing and dance and whatever."
"I'm proud to say that this is my second year supporting Beacon Schools," Andre Farr, chair of the Black Sports Agents Association, said. "When I first found out about the Beacon Schools project, I spoke to the governor here about the project. He supported it whole-heartedly, and I decided this is something I would like to lend my support to."
Celebrities were part of the draw for corporate sponsors of the event. For a donation to Beacon Schools, sponsors's teams got to play a round of golf with one of the celebrities.
Farr said, laughing, that he was looking forward to returning to Mahogany Run a second time. "I may not win the golf tournament, but I'm the most consistent player here," he said. "I'm consistently bad!"
At an orientation for tournament volunteers last week, Beacon Schools executive director Valerie George said that in exchange for donating their time, the stars and their guests got complimentary air fare and hotel accommodations – and golf lessons from Mahogany Run pro Nevin Phillips.
Phillips said a number of the stars he has worked with in the four years of the tournament came to play with no experience on the links. But after spending time on the St. Thomas golf course, he said, a couple went on to take the sport up as a hobby.
The visitors's schedule allowed them some time to relax, too. Phifer, Morrow and Dorian Gregory from the TV show "Charmed" settled comfortably into chairs in the Renaissance lobby for a game of cards. Singer Jason Lattimore had fishing on his list of fun things to do.
Greg Ballard, assistant basketball coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves and former star with the Baltimore Bullets, and his family took a daytrip to St. John.
Ballard said that, like a lot of other professional athletes, he was able to pick up on golf easily. "I golfed a bit in a few tournaments back in the states," he said. "The best thing about this tournament is, it's best ball. We play for the best shot out there." He said he was hoping to make his share of them to "contribute to my team, because I'm a team ball player."