Monday was for a good day to play golf and raise money.  In Rockville, Maryland at the Woodmont Country Club, NEA (The National Education Association) hosted their 16^th Annual Invitational Golf Tournament.  It was a unique golfing event for beginners and experienced players.  Redskins cornerback Leigh Torrence, was not just there to improve his golf swing, but to support the purpose of helping to raise money for public health education.

           
    “I’m not an everyday golfer,” said Torrence.  “I try to get out there (to a golf course) once a week during the off-season and once every other week during the season.”

           
    Torrence was an undrafted free agent for the Green Bay Packers in 2005 but was acquired later by his home town team, the Atlanta Falcons.  Torrence, (26) signed with the Washington Redskins in 2007 and quickly became an asset to the team as a special teams contributor and filled in mightily for the injured Carlos Rogers last season.  This year he is apart of an outstanding, talented group of defensive backs for the Redskins.

      
        Torrence worked with the NEA as an intern, so to be asked to participate and support the association’s mission to promote the health of public education for teachers and students was an honor he couldn’t pass up.  “To be able to give back in a charitable event is very rewarding,” said Torrence.  “It brings awareness to promotion of education and it rewards people for being successful in the area of education.”

        
      The ability to help children is a passion of Leigh’s.  Torrence is passionate about the welfare of children because his mother is a community involvement officer.  When Torrence played for the Falcons, he started his own foundation in Atlanta, SWAY (South West Atlanta Youth Foundation).  Torrence is from Southwest Atlanta and he hosted his annual 4^th Down Fundamentals Camp this off season with 300 kids at the free all-day event with seven other NFL players, coaches and cheerleaders. 

     
       It is unknown as to how much money the NEA raised through the golf’s invitational 16-year history, but if Leigh and the association can put their events together, there’s no telling how much money they could raise for charity and to help benefit the NEA Health Information Network (NEA HIN).  “A hope of mine is to form a partnership with the association (NEA),” said Torrence. 

       
      Torrence was honored and excited to be apart of the golf invitational, but he will not quit his day job.  When the NEA started this event, Leigh was 10 years-old and like his birthdays, he hopes to be around for many more of the association’s invitational.  “Yes, I will be back next year,” said Torrence.  “This was my first year.  It felt good to be able to help out.”   

Written By: Barry Barnes