The University of Alabama RISE Center will host the RISE Tournament of Champions April 19-20 to aid in fundraising efforts to help its students reach their full potential.

The RISE Tournament of Champions will be April 19-20 at the NorthRiver Yacht Club. The golf tournament is a four-person dropout scramble, handicaps required, with morning or afternoon tee times both days. Registration for the golf tournament starts at $2,800 for a four-person team.

“RISE is always looking for new ways to meet the needs of families in our community who would benefit from the therapy services we offer,” said Andi Gillen, director of the UA RISE Center. “The number of families seeking services continues to increase beyond our program’s current capacity.

“We believe it is our responsibility to expand the programs we offer. The funds raised at these events will allow us to maintain our high-quality early intervention and preschool program and creatively seek ways to reach more families. There are many more families needing our support and assistance following the pandemic and we want to give all children the opportunity to meet their maximum potential.”

The cost per child to attend RISE five days a week has exceeded $20,000. While RISE receives funding from UA, an endowment and has contracts with local school systems, fundraisers like the golf and tennis tournaments are crucial to the school’s success. There are eight RISE programs across the country and the UA RISE Center is the only program that does not charge tuition to families with children who have special needs. All children needing therapy services continue to attend RISE Center at no cost.

Fundraising support has been instrumental in the program’s longevity and its ability to provide much needed early intervention services to children with special needs in the Tuscaloosa area.

RISE Tournament of Champions prizes including televisions, paddle boards, travel golf bags, golf handwarmers, a Top Golf experience, football helmets and footballs autographed by UA Head Football Coach Nick Saban and other Alabama-related memorabilia will be awarded to the top three teams with the best gross and net scores. Golfers will also receive a gift upon check-in and lunch will be provided.

Saban and other UA celebrities will be on hand for the RISE Tournament of Champions.

For more information about the tournaments and to register, call RISE at 205-348-7931 or visit the UA RISE Center website.