Former MSU star Richardson hosts annual charity golf outing

---

Tweet

In Jason Richardson’s nine years in the NBA, he has played for three different teams and three different cities. At every stop along the way, Richardson has been involved in the community, donating his time and money to his own charity, the Jason Richardson Foundation, and others in those cities.

But when the former MSU standout returned to Michigan for the annual Jason Richardson Golf Classic on Wednesday, which benefited the United Way of Saginaw County, he said he hasn’t forgotten where he came from.

“It’s always great to come back home,” said Richardson, who was a star at Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw, Mich., before playing at MSU from 1999-2001. “Saginaw will always be home to me, and to come back and help the United Way distribute money through all different activities throughout Saginaw is a great thing.”

The outing, held roughly 20 miles south of Richardson’s hometown at the Fortress Golf Course in Frankenmuth, Mich., is in its seventh year, and the two-time NBA Slam Dunk champion has sponsored each one.

Richardson said his involvement in the event has increased since its first year in 2004.

“United Way came to me, we just did a golf outing, and I kind of showed up,” Richardson said of the early years of the event. “The next thing I knew, they slapped my name in front of it and I came every year to tear up the golf course.”

United Way marketing director Kelly Johnson said the success of the event has increased each year, which has a lot to do with Richardson becoming more involved.

“The community really loves Jason, and he brings a lot of people in,” Johnson said. “We brought in $23,000 last year, and the number has gone up each year since we’ve started.”

The first three outings hosted by Richardson and the United Way were held at the Sawmill Golf Club in Saginaw, before moving to the Fortress in the fourth year.

“That’s when Jason became more involved and everything really started to take off,” Johnson said.

Throughout its first six years, Johnson said the event has brought in $110,000 for the United Way. Proceeds come from golfer registration and an auction featuring items donated by local businesses and memorabilia Richardson has given the organization.

Richardson also covers all of the United Way’s costs for the outing, helping to make the event even more successful, United Way of Saginaw CEO Cherrie Benchley said.

“This is money that’s gone out to the community, minus our own expenses, so this is a very big deal for us,” Benchley said. “We couldn’t do all of that without Jason.”

In honor of raising more than $100,000 for the United Way, Benchley presented the current Phoenix Suns player with a gift at the outing. Hoping to give Richardson something no one else could, the gift was a framed collage containing the brochures and photos from all six of the previous events.

“We figured it would be something nobody could buy for him and he couldn’t buy for himself a million times over,” Benchley said. “It’s just something special and unique to us to show our appreciation.”

As Benchley talked about Richardson and what he’s done for the United Way, Richardson said it was a good feeling to know he means so much to the Saginaw community.

“That’s great knowing I have an impact. To me, that’s what matters most,” Richardson said. “Being a professional athlete in the spotlight, you always want to give back to your hometown. I’m glad I can make a difference here.”

To make a donation to the Jason Richardson Foundation, visit jrich23.org/donate.

Check out the men’s basketball blog, Hoop, there is is! to read Richardson’s thoughts about his impending free agency and head coach Tom Izzo.

---