Organizations claim they have not received funds from charity golf event
Two charitable organizations and a golf course are still awaiting funds owed to them from a celebrity golf tournament. Ray Leonard, Jr., the son of boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, organized the event last October, but numerous individuals have informed FOX 5 that they are yet to receive their payouts.
ROCKVILLE, Md. – Two charitable organizations and a golf course are still awaiting funds they are owed following a celebrity golf tournament.
Ray Leonard, Jr., the son of famed boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, hosted the tournament last October, but many have reached out to FOX 5 expressing that they are still pending compensation.
The event was meant to promote women’s empowerment and support local girls’ and women’s organizations, according to the event’s website. However, five months have passed, and questions remain about the distribution of the funds.
Leonard, Jr. serves as the CEO of Leonard Sports Management. He explains that he was relaunching his business when a friend proposed the idea of hosting a golf tournament.
They identified two Maryland organizations, both listed on the website as beneficiaries, which work toward promoting women’s sports: the Lady Lions of Baltimore and Community Bridges of Silver Spring.
Shannon Babe-Thomas, Executive Director of Community Bridges, was enthusiastic about the opportunity and mobilized volunteers for the event, expecting a donation that never materialized.
“While there is no contract, I do have emails and comments on Instagram indicating that a check is forthcoming, yet we haven’t received anything,” Babe-Thomas stated.
The Lady Lions and the Lakewood Country Club are also still awaiting payments, including an outstanding balance of $25,000. They have reported to FOX 5 that they refused a payment plan of $500 per month and have yet to reach a settlement.
“We will definitely pursue legal action against him, his LLC, and all involved parties,” remarked Mitchell Rubenstein, treasurer of Lakewood Country Club. “If I had to make an educated guess now, I would file a suit for fraud, breach of contract, quantum meruit, and theft by deception.”
Leonard, Jr. told FOX 5 that he was not directly involved in the event planning, leaving others in charge. He asserted that it was not intended as a charity event—his company is for-profit—and claimed they did not generate any profits.
“If we had made any proceeds, they would have gone to the charities. Unfortunately, we didn’t make anything. In fact, I’ve incurred losses, and it’s my responsibility to resolve the situation, as my name is prominently associated with the tournament,” stated Leonard, Jr.
FOX 5 could not determine the precise amount raised, but event manager Marquis Evans estimated it was around $40,000, mentioning that he covered two vendors’ costs personally.
He insists there should be clarity regarding the nature of the event and its costs, emphasizing that the charities are the ones suffering the most.
“The charities lose faith and hope in initiatives like this because situations like this damage their credibility and tarnish the reputation of those genuinely striving to do good work in the community. That’s the most disheartening aspect,” Evans added. “On behalf of the charities, they certainly deserve better. They absolutely deserve better.”
Leonard asserts he is still conducting a post-event evaluation. Despite claims from various organizations, he maintains that he delivered on the promise of hosting an event that provided charities with thousands of views and raised awareness for advancing women’s empowerment.
