Twins organize charity golf tournament for a cause
When Jessica Bork’s twin boys were born prematurely, their footprints were so tiny she could fit them on the bill of a hat.
Born at 28 weeks and weighing in at less than three pounds, the twins spent nearly 100 days in the NICU at Wolfson Children’s Hospital – almost 100 distraught days that Jessica and her husband, Todd, spent watching the devoted team of Wolfson professionals care for their boys and aid them in their fight to live. Joshua, in particular, became very sick, battling sepsis while doctors told his parents he had a 50-50 chance of survival.
“It was always a battle until they were finally out,” Bork said. “…To see them thriving the way they are now is just amazing.”
Today, both boys are indeed thriving. The 17-year-olds have entered their junior year of high school and are excelling academically, with a strong interest in civic engagement. They’ve organized a fundraiser benefitting their school’s golf team and have coordinated with a nonprofit to donate baked goods they created at a culinary class to families in need.
This summer, as they considered the healthcare professionals who cared for them so diligently in that NICU, the boys have decided to host the first annual Golf Scramble at the San Jose Country Club on Monday, Sept. 8, to benefit Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
A Family Affair
The whole family has gotten behind this initiative, with Joshua and Jackson reaching out to potential sponsors and participants and their younger sister, Jordan, serving as the point of contact to field inquiries about the tournament. For Jordan, the golf tournament is not only a way to say thank you to the hospital but a way to help other families in the future.
“I’ve grown up behind my brothers, and I just couldn’t imagine them not being here with me,” Jordan said. “As many people as we can help, as many twins or any baby that’s in the NICU right now or in the future – if we could help get the best equipment in and top-of-the-game things, we can just continue to save lives, bring people here, let them be healthy and live good lives like my brothers have been able to do.”
Jackson echoed his sister’s sentiments, adding that it felt right to give back to the hospital.
“We really owe being here to the NICU,” he said. “We were like, ‘Well, let’s give back since we’re here now and we’re doing well and we have the chance to be able to.’”
A golf tournament was a natural avenue for this philanthropic effort as both Josh and Jackson are avid golfers and play on their school’s varsity golf team. Their father, Todd, is the golf director at San Jose Country Club.
“We’ve played in a lot of golf tournaments that have been designed for donating money and helping to create things,” said Josh. “So we said, ‘Well, we’ve played in these tournaments. We’ve played a lot of golf. So what if we make [a tournament]?’”
Josh, Jackson and Jordan have spent their summer doing just that and have almost filled the tournament teams and sponsorship slots. Currently, they are still seeking a title sponsor, additional sponsorships, and tournament participants.
While their story may have inspired the idea for the tournament, Josh emphasized the fact that it isn’t about them.
“You’re not helping us,” he said. “You’re helping the babies that are in the NICU, and when you’re helping them, you’re helping their parents. You’re helping their brothers and sisters….You’re helping their family.”
