By Sylvie McCarthy

Vicar’s Landing Foundation will host its 21st annual Drives and Dinks Charity Classic on April 14 at The Yards.

The Yards is a 15-hole golf course that also has 12 pickleball courts. Drives and Dinks moved to The Yards three years ago, and Vicar’s Landing Foundation made the decision to add pickleball to the tournament.

For the past 20 years, Drives and Dinks has been raising money for charities that are centered around nourishment for seniors. This year’s charities will include Meals on Wheels, Pie in the Sky, Epic-Cure and the University of North Florida’s (UNF) Wings on Meals. This program was developed by UNF students specifically targeting seniors who are on the waiting list for Meals on Wheels.

Bruce Vorsanger, chief development officer at Vicar’s Landing, is proud to work alongside these charities to help raise awareness for this growing need.

“This is Vicar’s Landing’s way of giving back to the community and the greater Jacksonville area,” he said.

Last year, Drives and Dinks raised a little more than $140,000, and this year Vorsanger’s goal is to raise $200,000.

This year, First Tee will be joining Drives and Dinks, and Sherie Smith, executive assistant at Vicar’s Landing, believes this addition will benefit everyone involved.

“We thought it would be a nice idea to put the generations together,” she said.

First Tee is a youth development organization that enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, First Tee creates active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience.

First Tee will be present at the putting contest at Drives and Dinks and all the money raised at the putting contest will go directly to their organization.

On tournament day, there will be a representative from the sheriff’s office to kick things off with the Pledge of Allegiance. Golf and pickleball will begin at 1 p.m. and conclude around 4:30. The Charity Classic celebration party will begin around 5 p.m. and Vicar’s Landing members as well as community members are invited to attend. There will be a silent auction at the party as well as a live auction, a DJ and food and drinks.

“It’s a big community event,” said Vorsanger.

Vicar’s Landing Foundation is excited for this year’s tournament and hopes the community will come out and join in the fun.

“This tournament turns around and gives back to a community that has been so good to us,” said Vorsanger.

For more information on the tournament and the after-party, go to vicarslanding.com.