For T.J. Bryant, president of Winsupply of Louisville (Kentucky), golfing is a great way to unwind and connect with friends and colleagues. Adding fundraising and awareness for autism — a cause Bryant has a personal connection to — made for a winning combination.

Winsupply of Louisville hosted its inaugural Golf for Autism charity event Oct. 18, 2024, at the prestigious Heritage Hill Golf Club in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Benefiting FEAT (Families for Effective Autism Treatment) of Louisville, the event was more than just a golf outing; it was a heartfelt community effort to support local families impacted by autism through a day filled with camaraderie, fun and giving. 

“We wanted to create a golf event that was over the top — and make it a memorable experience,” Bryant says. The scramble event, capped at 120 players, delivered on that promise. He and his team leveraged strong relationships with industry manufacturers, reps, vendors and customers. He smiled while saying, “We had a huge amount of support from our reps and manufacturers with sponsorships that covered all the costs and then some.”

The inspiration for this event stems from Bryant’s advocacy and personal connection to autism through his son, Owen. Motivated by his family’s journey, Bryant found a natural alignment with FEAT, a nonprofit that directly funds childcare, therapies, educational programs and job placement for families. “FEAT keeps its efforts local, helping families like ours in immediate, tangible ways,” Bryant explains. “The money raised supports families affected by autism with education, recreation, childcare, job placement and so much more.” 

The day’s highlights included engaging hole games, such as a marshmallow long-drive contest and a golf-ball challenge using a custom-built “potato gun” adapted from a Milwaukee air snake tool. Other unique features included raffles, bourbon bottle putting contests, and prizes for the first, second and last-place teams. “The last-place team received custom bourbon bottles with range tokens taped to them,” Bryant shares. “It was our way of saying thank you for being honest — but you clearly need to work on your game.”

Thanks to overwhelming support from sponsors and participants, the event’s expenses were fully covered, raising more than $23,000 for FEAT. 

The event was made even more meaningful by the presence of families supported by FEAT, including children on the autism spectrum who actively joined the day’s games. For Bryant, a standout moment was capturing a photo of his son Owen holding the giant donation check alongside other children — a visual testament to the community’s collective effort. “This was about creating a fun, unforgettable experience while making a meaningful difference in the lives of local families,” he says.

Plans are already underway for the 2025 Golf Fore Autism event, with hopes of building on last year’s success and achieving an even greater impact. The next event will take place in September 2025, and more information can be found at www.louisvillewin.com.