This AJGA season, I have chosen to continue to raise money for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. I was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 12, and my curve was severe enough to require me to wear a back brace for 22 hours per day for 18 months. During this time, I was unable to golf competitively and I had to travel to Virginia for a specialized brace. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta provided me with my initial diagnosis, x rays, and specialized physical therapy. That treatment, along with the advanced bracing, allowed me to achieve an eight degree correction in my curve, and I was able to return to competitive golf in the spring of 2017. 

Last year, I raised money for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and I had the amazing opportunity to present the check directly to my surgeon and physical therapist. I am continuing to raise money this year with very specific objectives for its use. All of the money raised this year will be used to further expand the outcomes center at Children's and will support their collection and analysis of patient reported outcomes data. This data will be collected from patients with a variety of spinal deformities including early onset and juvenile scoliosis and both idiopathic and neuromuscular scoliosis. Resources, including staff support and data analytics with statistical support, are costly and yet are the lifeblood of the outcomes center at Children's. Children's performs 500 spinal surgeries per year, the highest in the country, and tries to collect meaningful data points on as many of them as possible to help them improve their care, their outcomes, and their knowledge of spinal deformity. 

Your dollars will not only support the funding Children’s Health Care of Atlanta, but also will impact other junior golfers as well through the ACE Grant program. Your contributions will help talented junior golfers with a desire to better their life through playing junior golf and earning a college golf scholarship. These juniors lack the financial resources to compete at the national level to gain exposure to these scholarships. They need our help as well. The scholarships these juniors earn through their play change the course of their life and the life of their future family.

My goal is to raise $10,000. Would you consider making a donation and making a difference?

There are two ways to contribute - Click Donate Now

• You can make a one-time donation and your credit card will be charged now.
• Or, you can pledge a specific amount for every birdie or eagle I make. I will keep you up to date during the season and then contact you at the end to let you know how much you owe.

If you would like to send a check, please write the check to the American Junior Golf Association and make sure to include my name in the memo section. Please mail to:

AJGA – Leadership Links

1980 Sports Club Drive

Braselton, GA 30517

Thank you in advance for any support you can lend.

Sincerely,

Allie Kantor