Community Corner

Memorial Golf Tournament Reflects Lauren Avezzie's Kindness, Volunteerism and Adventuresome Spirit

The seventh annual Lauren E. Avezzie Memorial Golf Tournament is scheduled for Oct. 6, 2013 in memory of the local woman who died in a drowning accident in the Caribbean.

When Lauren Avezzie returned to the United States after studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the typically happy Pepperdine University student called her father to tell him she felt angry but that she didn't know why.

In remembering Lauren –  who drowned at age 22 on Jan. 29, 2006 while vacationing at remote Caribbean island Dominique – her father, David Avezzie, who is in the process of organizing an annual golf event in her honor, will never forget what his daughter told him after he advised her to research anger both secularly and through their Baptist religious teachings.

Lauren came to the understanding that she felt anger "because I see injustice in the world and the people doing injustice are getting away with it," he said that she told him. Spiritually, she realized that she didn't have to worry because "God would take care of this," David Avezzie said.

To Avezzie  –  a longtime physical education teacher at Union School in Unionville – the conversation epitomizes his well-traveled daughter's strong desire to help others and her compassionate nature. 

Every year, David and his wife, Cindi honor their daughter in the Lauren E. Avezzie Memorial Golf Tournament on the Farmington Woods golf course. The event, scheduled for Oct. 6, marks the seventh annual tournament.

"I thought it would be a nice way of bringing people together," said Avezzie, who added that Lauren loved being around people. 

Every year, Lauren E. Avezzie Charitable Foundation, a charity that the Avezzies created in Lauren's memory, donates $25,000 to $30,000 to various service organizations and funds some scholarships through fundraising at the tournament and year-round contributions. 

"Everything that we give to has to do something with Lauren," Avezzie said.

For instance, the foundation donates to the Amazon Conservation Team, an agency that partners with "indigenous people in conserving biodiversity, health and culture," according to the tournament pamphlet. Lauren "translated contracts and researched rainforest conservation issues" in an internship for the organization, according to her biography as provided by the Avezzies.

The list of beneficiaries is extensive and the amount of donors is even longer. 

"I can't even begin to tell you how much kindness we've been extended," Avezzie said, thankful to Farmington Woods for being the hosting venue every year.

Many of the organizations the Avezzies donate to benefit children, such as Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a free camp for kids with illnesses.

"We love helping kids. Lauren loved kids," Avezzie said. 

 The foundation also offers scholarships to students at Farmington High School, The Master's School and the Classical Magnet School in Hartford. 

There is a book corner dedicated to Lauren at the Union School library and the foundation donates money for new books every year.

The Lauren Avezzie Memorial Kiva Program provides loans to people in third world countries to start businesses.  

Other benefitting organizations include Mary's Place in Windsor   –  which supports siblings of someone who passed away  – and Hearts that HEAL  –  Lauren's mother, Cindi's group for parents who have lost a child. Good Samaritan, run by one of Lauren's classmates at Pepperdine, is also a beneficiary.  To view the full list of charities, click on the link provided.

Lauren grew up in Burlington with her older sister, Alison. She was an honors student when she graduated from The Master's School in West Simsbury, the private high school where she learned to speak Spanish and captained three varsity sports teams. 

The Avezzies hold the tournament in the fall, which David finds one of the prettiest times of year to golf, in tribute to the beauty of the fall foliage that Lauren enjoyed in New England and family trips to Vermont.  

Lauren visited many third world countries, like Costa Rica, Belize and Nicaragua and witnessed injustice such as wealthy citizens mistreating impoverished people. 

"It really troubled her," Avezzie said. 

Her traveling gave her a "whole new perspective" on the world, he said. She aspired to be a college Spanish teacher and help others.

Lauren had been scheduled to teach English to native Spanish speakers at the University of Santiago in Chile right after her fateful trip to the Caribbean.

She graduated from Pepperdine in Malibu, CA in 2005 with Cum Laude honors and bachelor's degrees in Spanish and international studies. Lauren also earned the Pepperdine Service Award there. 

After college, she worked at the Spanish embassy in Washington D.C., assisting the Ministry of Education in "facilitating culture and language exchange programs between the United States/Canada and Spain," according to the tournament pamphlet. She also  worked at the Center for Multicultural Human Services in Falls Church Virginia, using "her Spanish-speaking skills to serve clients who were victims of violence," according to the tournament pamphlet.

"Lauren was one of the nicest people I ever met," Avezzie said. "She loved adventure."

More information on the tournament and foundation is available at laurenfund.org.


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