Donovan Delivers, a nonprofit that financially assists families who’ve lost a child at birth, will host a fundraiser to help their cause on Oct. 29 at Topgolf Mount Laurel.
The Robbinsville-based organization was founded in 2015 by the Delay family. Sharon Delay, its secretary and treasurer, said her family’s reason for initiating the nonprofit stemmed from the loss of a grandchild.
“We formed our charity after losing my grandson Donovan at birth,” she said. “We wanted to change that tragedy into something positive, because we realized there were so many families that have lost a child and their employers wouldn’t give them time off, or they couldn’t afford to pay their bills or for the burial of their baby.
“It was just shocking.”
The nonprofit works directly with families and hospitals to defray $2,000 in costs for medical, funeral or other bills resulting from a stillbirth.
“We’re a small (organization), so we don’t have a huge amount of money,” Delay noted. . “We spend whatever we possibly can for each family that we help.”
The Donovan Delivers fundraiser was originally annually, but the pandemic caused a two-year delay. This year’s event at Topgolf, called Swing or Treat, will take place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It is geared toward families and will have a Halloween theme; participants are welcome to come dressed in-costume.
Entry to the event is $60 per adult, $50 per child ages 2 and up, and $350 to rent one bay for six people. Fees include food, drinks and golf and the fundraiser will include a DJ, silent auction, 50/50 raffle and an award for the best costume.
Delay encouraged residents to come out and participate., adding that Donovan Delivers would like to spread the word about both the event and the nonprofit to make families who may be financially struggling after a stillbirth aware that the organization can help.
“We’re really excited about doing (the fundraiser event) again this year,” she said. “It’s something that we don’t think a lot of people know about. So we really just want to put the word out, especially in the area, so that people can come out and enjoy (the event) that day.”
Topgolf is located at 104 Centerton Road. For more information about Donovan Delivers, visit its website at www.donovandelivers.com.
