CHRIS ARCENEAUX
Blog: August-September 2013
Bring Golf To Abbeville, Louisiana
Youth Empowerment Day
Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza presents Chris Arceneaux with a signed proclamation during a press conference promoting the Darby Foundation golf program. Councilman Wayne Landry (far left) and the Darby Foundation’s Brandon Gunnings also attended.
I left Louisiana in the mid 1990s and headed to New York to “DREAM BIG”. Those dreams came true for me, as a Lafayette native with strong family ties to Abbeville. I became a professional golfer and successful businessman. That success did not satisfy me because I wanted to give something back.
I
achieved this by creating the Darby Foundation, named in honor of my late father, Frederick Darby of Abbeville, LA. The Foundation’s goal has been to use golf as a tool to teach life lessons. I am committed to create life skills and golf programs for Abbeville and Vermilion Parish.
“That’s what it’s about,” It’s about the kids. We came here in May to reach out and share some of the great things we wanted to do. Through fundraising efforts, the goal is to establish programs in each state, distribute 100 sets of golf clubs and get kids in the program.” “I’m going to continue to work with sponsors and others to get this program going.”
The Darby Foundation held the first Youth Empowerment Fun Fest and Back-To-School Program on Saturday, August 3rd from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Abbeville Public Library.
It was a Hugh success. Vermilion Parish Police Juror Ronald Darby and Abbeville City Councilman Wayne Landry took part in the day’s event. It was exciting to speak and share my journey.”
Fifteen-year old, New York native, Brannon Gunnings, began learning golf through the Darby Foundation two years ago. Gunnings told the audience, “If you would have asked me about golf two years ago, I would have said I don’t think so. But, thanks to Mr. Chris Arceneaux, I have not only learned golf but learned how to chase dreams. “Everything that you think could happen can happen if you chase your dreams.” Brannon was presented with an award naming him the first “Youth Ambassador” for the Darby Foundation.
City officials in Abbeville are strongly supporting me in my goal to bring what I started in New York through the Darby Foundation into their area. Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza thanked me on Wednesday, saying: “We are happy to have Chris in our community. His program is going to be wonderful for our kids and we are excited about it. We wish him the best of success.”
Piazza also presented me with a beautiful proclamation, declaring Aug. 1, 2013 as “Golf for Kids Program” day in the City of Abbeville! “DREAM BIG” That’s all I can tell you. That’s my motto.
Share your thoughts and comments with me at
Chris@DarbyFoundation.org
