John White is founder and President of Golf, For Goodness Sake!, a company established in 1992 to assist non-profit organizations with various special events and fundraisers, primarily implementing and promoting these fundraisers through the game of golf.
John graduated Magna cum Laude from the University of Alabama School of Accountancy in 1984. After working with Arthur Andersen & Company in their Atlanta office for 3 years, he entered the golf industry.
While serving as the Assistant Golf Professional at Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta, John attained Class A Status with the PGA (Professional Golfers' Association of America).
In 1992, John began devoting his efforts full-time to cultivating Golf, For Goodness Sake. While assisting local charities and ministries with their fund-raising efforts, Golf, For Goodness Sake helps benefit communities around the United States and Canada through the vehicle of golf. This company specializes in planning, coordinating, and overseeing golf tournaments and professionally organized golf events. As the name of this company implies, Golf, For Goodness Sake is currently involved in helping a number of ministries and non-profit concerns nationwide raise much-needed funds.
Over the past nineteen years, Golf, For Goodness Sake has conducted over 1200 Golf Fundraisers, helping non-profit organizations raise over thirty million dollars and cultivate hundreds of thousands of personal and corporate relationships. Golf, For Goodness Sake is dedicated to benefiting communities through its powerful and dynamic fundraising methods. Golf, For Goodness Sake's client list includes organizations such as The University of Georgia Foundation, Focus on the Family, Promise Keepers, Starlight Foundation, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, The Alzheimer's Association, The SIDS Alliance, Special Olympics, Youth For Christ, Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, The Salvation Army, Children's Wish Foundation International, Task Force for the Homeless, SafeHouse Outreach Ministries, numerous ministries of Campus Crusade for Christ International, and many more. Heritage Preparatory School recently raised over $150,000 with a field of just 68 golfers, and the AGAPE Golf Tournament in Nashville has raised over $2 million in the past eight years!
John and his wife Suzanne were married in Atlanta in 1989, and they currently reside on beautiful Lake Keowee in Seneca, South Carolina, with their three beautiful daughters Weatherly (19 years of age), Macy (15 years of age), and Elizabeth (10 years of age).
Dan Knutson has worked with Golf for Goodness Sake since 1996. Having worked in full-time ministry on several college campuses over a 9 year period, followed by 15 years of fundraising consulting as well as other business and market place experience, Dan understands not only the challenges, but the keys to successful fundraising in today’s economy.
Through the years, Dan has helped many organizations across the country raise tremendous revenue through the power of the Golf For Goodness Sake model. Dozens upon dozens of ministries and non-profit organizations have benefited through Dan’s leadership and relational approach to event management.
Dan graduated in 1980 with a B.S. in Speech Communications from Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Mn., and now lives in Atlanta with his wife Lynn and their 3 children – Kallie (16), Courtney (15) and Drew (12).
Ted Bleymaier has worked with Golf For Goodness Sake for the last nine years. Over this period of time, he has been involved with 144 tournaments in 12 states and 16 cities across the country. These tournaments raise awareness and money for a number of charities and schools, averaging $60,000 each which totals more than $8.6 million dollars.
Ted graduated from Stanford University in 1972 with an undergraduate degree in international relations and then went on to earn a masters degree in education. After a four year stint in the Air Force, he then spent twenty five years as an executive in the Christian Music and Publishing industry. The last eighteen years were spent as the Vice President of International for Word Music and Publishing, the largest Christian Music company in the world. Ted helped the company build a distribution network of over one hundred international countries with owned subsidiaries in Canada and the United Kingdom. During the course of his travels overseas, Ted has had the opportunity to play and be involved in tournaments in forty countries around the globe.
Ted’s involvement with Christian Music and Publishing led him to work with a number of non-profit organizations both in the United States and abroad. Whether serving on the Boards of these organizations or working with them on a variety of individual projects, he has gained a wealth of experience understanding the unique challenges and the needs of organizations working in the non-profit arena.
In 2000, Ted met John White and was introduced to Golf For Goodness Sake! With Ted’s passion for golf, his sales, marketing and management experience coupled with his interest in non-profit causes, he saw the potential impact of how the golf challenge approach could benefit a non-profit by helping them “raise funds and find friends.”
Ted and his wife, Ann, were married in Chester, England in 1977 while he was serving in the USAF and currently reside in Spring Hill, Tennessee with the best golf dog in the world named Berwyn. They have two grown daughters, Misha and Brianna.
As a leader who brings extensive experience to the table in marketing
communications, media and investor relations with financial, nonprofit and technology companies, Jimmy has been an award-winning employee and a successful agency co-owner. During tenures as an as an external advisor, Jimmy consistently brought strategic clarity and pragmatism to organizations and their communications programs. Recognized for loyalty, accountability and team leadership. he's developed a reputation for getting things done with excellence, wisdom and economy. Jimmy has a passion for speaking with gravitas on the causes he believes in. Given his energy for solving problems, Jimmy will never give up on finding solutions.
Jimmy met John White almost 25 years ago, but they first worked together when GFGS was doing a golf outing for Porter Academy in Roswell, GA in 2003. Jimmy saw first hand the power of the "ambassador" concept in charity golf events. Since then, Jimmy and John have teamed up to help private schools, community organizations and college ministies. Jimmy's role is identifying prospective organizations, sharing stories of how everybody can see great results if they'll take the time to talk, email, or write to their friends and family and share why they are excited to support the charity they believe in. Jimmy also helps client organizations in honing their communications and promotion of their golf event.
Jimmy's ideal day would be playing a round of 36 holes with good friends and personally raising about $2,500 for one of his favorite organizations.
Ben Moody joined the Golf, for Goodness Sake! team in July 2010 after meeting with the organization’s founder, John White. He was immediately impressed with GFGS’s mission and is excited about the opportunity to help nonprofit organizations raise money and awareness for their causes.
Prior to joining GFGS, Ben served as the assistant coach for Men’s Golf at Georgia State University for two years. While at GSU, Ben enjoyed helping the players develop better golf abilities and aid in their personal growth, acting as a mentor for the players.
Ben graduated from the University of Alabama in 2008 with a degree in General Human Environmental Sciences. While at UA, Ben was a member of the men’s golf team.
Ben and his wife Beth were married in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in August of 2008. They recently just from Atlanta, Georgia to Birmingham, Alabama.
ben@golfforgoodnesssake.com
After 8 years of coaching high school basketball, Dave Hobbs spent over 26 years coaching basketball at the collegiate level. His first job in college coaching came at Virginia Commonwealth, where he served as an assistant coach with Tubby Smith on J.D. Barnett’s staff. After coaching on the Rams’ staff for six years (1980-85), Dave was hired at Alabama as an assistant coach for Wimp Sanderson. His seven years as an assistant in Tuscaloosa were spent helping the Crimson Tide win one outright SEC Championship, four SEC Tournament crowns and four appearances in the NCAA Sweet 16. As an assistant, he had the opportunity to coach such All-SEC performers as Derrick McKey, Robert Horry, James “Hollywood” Robinson and Latrell Sprewell.
When Sanderson left Alabama following the 1992 season, Dave was named head coach. During his tenure the Tide played in two NCAA Tournaments and two NIT Championships, including the NIT Final Four in New York City. He resigned his post following the 1998 season after compiling a 110-76 (59.4%) career record and producing nine All-SEC players, including NBA All Star Antonio McDyess.
During his collegiate career, Dave coached teams to more than 580 and victories and 22 postseason tournament appearances, including 20 in the NCAA Tournament.
While at Alabama Dave ran a very successful golf tournament to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tuscaloosa. He and his wife Skeet were also involved with volunteer work with United Cerebral Palsy. As a result he brings a wealth of knowledge to Golf, for Goodness Sake in helping direct non-profits be successful in their fundraising efforts.
Dave and Skeet now live in Birmingham Alabama. His two children, Heather and Davy, and 4 grandchildren also live in the Birmingham area.
Chris Huskey joined the Golf, for Goodness Sake team in April 2011 after being the event chairperson for the Greer Middle College Charter High School’s tournament. Using the turn-key system that GFGS offers, Chris realized first hand the benefit that GFGS is able to offer any organization that believes in their mission.
In addition to working with the GFGS team, Chris is also involved in the financial planning industry. His mindset, of helping others plan for their future, compliments the GFGS mission of helping ministries and non-profits plan for their future.
Chris graduated with honors, “Praise the Laude” from Winthrop College in 1992 where he earned a Bachelors in Business Administration. He has extensive knowledge of how non-profit organizations work with over 7 years experience with the YMCA,
Chris and his wife, Lisa were married in 1991 and they currently reside in Taylors, SC with their wonderful children, Luke (17 years of age), Hannah (14), Eden (9), and Abi (8)
Pat joined Golf for Goodness Sake in October 2011. Pat met John White this summer at a Captains meeting and realized they both shared a passion for using golf to benefit nonprofit organizations.
Pat earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the State University of New York at Albany. While studying at Albany he met his wife, Liz. They have 2 children, Megan and Thomas.
After college, Pat went to work in the Financial Services industry in New York and in 1987 he moved to Alpharetta, Georgia. He served as VP and Branch Manager of the Atlanta office for Waterhouse Securities. In 1996, Pat left Waterhouse after 10 years to start his own investment advisory firm.
Pat has been an active volunteer for the past 20 years. He has served on multiple Boards during that time including his homeowners association, Alpharetta’s Traffic Calming Committee, the Boy Scouts and the Knights of Columbus.
He also was a member of Atlanta National Golf Club, and is an avid golfer. He has organized and run multiple Charity golf events during his volunteer work. Pat has also organized an annual 4 day golf trip for up to 40 friends since 1993.
In 2009, the Shevlin family moved to their home on Hilton Head Island. Son, Thomas is a member of the Hilton Head Island Crew team and Pat is currently on the Board of Directors, where he serves as Treasurer and lead fundraiser.
Daughter Megan is attending the College of Charleston.
