Rafe Cochran Golf Classic Swings into Sixth Year: Palm Beach Prodigy Tees Up to Help Those in Need

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (April 7, 2022) Palm Beach resident Rafe Cochran is wrapping up his junior year in high school, and already he has achieved more as a golfer and a philanthropist than many people twice his age. The 17-year-old is preparing to host the sixth annual Rafe Cochran Golf Classic on Friday, May 6, this year at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. Proceeds will provide classrooms for a school in Jamaica through the international relief and development organization Food For The Poor.

“Education is something that will last forever, and a lot of the people in developing countries lack the education that they deserve,” Rafe said. “I believe that having a good school helps the community as well as the kids because the kids are going to help the community when they get older.”

Rafe’s love for golf started when he was 6. Three years later, he became one of FFTP’s youngest donors, raising money to build 10 homes in Haiti, and later building or expanding three schools in Jamaica by the age of 14.

Since creating his charity golf event at age 11, hosting his first classic in 2016, it’s been an annual event, pausing only in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, each year making a difference in the lives of people living in poverty with little hope of having a better life.

His parents, Jay and Diahann Cochran, are proud of their son, who learned about FFTP in 2013 when a representative from FFTP visited his third-grade class.

“It’s been the most enriching journey that our son has brought us on, and that’s the truth,” Diahann Cochran said. “It’s gratifying to be able to help people in need. It’s really rewarding – not only for [the beneficiaries], but for all of us.”

This year, Rafe is supporting McGrath High School in Treadways, Jamaica. Originally built to accommodate 600 students ages 12 to 15, the school has a population of 1,200 students, ages 12 to 18, with many from low-income families. The classic will fund construction of two buildings with six classrooms to accommodate 140 children and six staff members. Many students attend classes outdoors beneath gazebos or trees and in open areas under staircases and in corridors.

“This project is going to create a setting where students will be able to better apply themselves and focus on their studies, ultimately building a brighter future for themselves and their community, and we have Rafe to thank for that,” said Ed Raine, President/CEO of FFTP. “All of us at Food For the Poor hold him in high regard, not just for the level of his generosity but also because of his vision and commitment.”

When he is not planning the golf classic, Rafe is traveling across the country participating in golf tournaments. He’s also dedicated to online studies at Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, where he excels in advanced-level classes.

Rafe’s efforts gained him recognition by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), which recently honored him with the Jerry Cole Sportsmanship Award, presented to junior golfers who best display exemplary sportsmanship and integrity. The AJGA is dedicated to the growth and development of young men and women who hope to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.

“I was so excited to win an award through an organization that I play golf with because it recognizes both my passions,” he said. “They are recognizing my passion for helping others, and they also gave me an opportunity to play in their events and learn through golf as well.”

This year, the tournament will include a variety of special raffle items, including sport outings and local attractions, with proceeds going toward the project. To learn more about the tournament, sponsorship opportunities and more, please contact Trichina Chue, Special Events Manager, at TrichinaC@foodforthepoor.org or 954-427-2222 ext. 4021, or visit the Rafe Cochran Golf Classic event page on our website.

Event Sponsors: Bessemer Trust, Susan Phipps Cochran, Ron and Dolores Romeo; Food & Beverage Sponsor: Braman Motor Company; Gift Bag Sponsors: Dwight C. and Martha Schar; Longest Drive Closest to the Pin Sponsor: Rick and Diane Heard, Spencer Partrich, Lamont Harris; Hole Sponsors: John Dewing, Vasantha Sivaloganath, Leslie Schram, El Cid Fitness, Mint Eco Car Wash, McCarty Family Charitable Fund, Orbit Porshe Service, The Richard Koppelman Revocable Trust.

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Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry children and families living in poverty primarily in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicine, educational materials, homes, support for vulnerable children, care for the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Ernestine Williams

Communications
305-321-7342
ernestinew@foodforthepoor.com