At ForKids Field Day, Community Unites for Families 

Nearly 200 community members turned the annual fundraiser into a celebration of hope and action.  

The sun came out, the greens were alive with friendly competition, and the trails buzzed with energy as nearly 200 supporters came together in Suffolk on Sept. 18 for the 6th Annual ForKids Field Day.  

Held at Cedar Point Club, this community-focused event raises critical funds to support ForKids’ mission of breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty for families and children across Southeastern Virginia. 

“ForKids Field Day is more than a day of outdoor fun,” said Thaler McCormick, CEO of ForKids. “It’s about bringing people together around a shared purpose: to lift children and families out of poverty right here in Hampton Roads. Each year, Field Day inspires new and longtime volunteers, donors, and advocates to join us in creating practical pathways out of poverty.”  

Since its founding in 1988, ForKids has worked to deliver individualized services that build long-term stability for families. Today, the organization operates the Landmark Center in Chesapeake and the Birdsong Center in Suffolk, with a team of more than 140 staff and 1,100 volunteers serving more than 70,000 individuals each year. 

What began in 2020 as a reimagined golf tournament has grown into “an inclusive, feel-good tradition,” said Kate Cross, co-chair of the ForKids Field Day Committee.  

“This year’s Field Day featured golf, yoga, and a two-mile walk along the Nansemond River,” Cross added, “all while building awareness and raising money for one of Virginia’s largest and most effective poverty-fighting organizations.” 

Funds generated by Field Day are invested in ForKids’ core services, which range from emergency shelter and education programs to economic mobility coaching and housing stability efforts. These services help families move from crisis to stability and, ultimately, thriving futures. 

This year’s event was made possible by a broad network of philanthropic supporters, volunteers and community partners, including more than 60 sponsors and the continued leadership of the event’s 2025 Presenting Sponsor, the Louis & Mary Haddad Foundation. 

“Field Day is an inspiring, community-driven event that continues to grow in impact and spirit,” said Mary Haddad, who alongside her husband, Lou, has been the Field Day Presenting Sponsor for five years. “ForKids is a powerful catalyst for change in our region, encouraging each of us to take meaningful action that extends far beyond today.”