KEVIL, Ky. — Over 60 players showed up for a golf scramble in Kevil, Kentucky, raising funds to benefit the children of Stephanie Stacey, a victim of domestic violence who was killed in December 2025.
Organizers Candace Long and Bo Neely said the staff at Independence Bank worked hard to put everything together for the event, and that they were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community.
Organizer and Co-parent Candace Long with Bo Neely, a trust officer with Independence Bank.
Ethan Patterson
“We’re just completely overwhelmed and overjoyed with the response from the community,” Long said. “This is the first time several of us have tried to put together a golf scramble, but the outpouring from the community has been absolutely fantastic.”
With over 60 players signed up to play, Long said the turnout was completely unexpected.
Attendees take to the green.
Ethan Patterson
“Everybody that’s out there is either somebody that golfs all the time or just does it for fun, so I think they’re just going to be out here just having a good day, braving the heat because it is a warm, warm September day,” she said. “So I think they’re just going to play for fun and hopefully win some prices that we had some local vendors that were so graciously able to donate.”
She said regardless if people walk away with a prize, they’re still gathering for a good cause.
Independence Bank helped to set up for the event.
Ethan Patterson
“At the end of the day, this embodies the memory and the celebration of the life of a beautiful woman that we have lost, and we just want to showcase three beautiful children — that this is all for them — and we want them to know that there’s a lot of people in their corner and a lot of people that would do absolutely anything in the world for them.”
Pink skirts were available for $20.
Ethan Patterson
Long said she hopes for this to be the inaugural event, and for them to continue annually.
“That’s the goal, is to grow and grow awareness. So that’s what we’re hoping for, and we hope next year’s even bigger, maybe a little bit cooler on the day of, but hopefully — definitely even — bigger than this year’s.”
Long estimated that the community raised nearly $6,000, and Neely said for those who didn’t have a chance to make it out, that donations are still being accepted at any Independence Bank location made out to the Stephanie Stacey Memorial Trust Fund.