Chick-fil-A Bristow gives back: Patriot students learn life, job skills on golf course

Students at Patriot High School are a little richer in experience and cash today.

Chick-fil-A Bristow owner Mike Lovitt presented a $1,082 check to the in Patriot High School’s Special Education programs. The program teaches students across the autism spectrum life and job skills.

The money donated to the school were proceeds from the Second Annual Chick-fil-A Bristow Charity Golf Tournament held on September 22 at Broad Run Golf & Practice Facility. Chick-fil-A Bristow selected the organization inside the school to be the beneficiary of the proceeds for the charity golf tournament

“It did my heart glad to know we’re supporting you guys,” Lovitt told the students.

He passed out Chick-fil-A Digital Offer Cards and then asked each student to hold them up while he presented the check to school faculty.

The funds will be used to offset the cost of meals and transportation n on field trips outside of the classroom. Students in the program are regularly taken offsite to learn social and job skills in a real-world environment, said instructor Brook Bell.

“This is great because we don’t have to ask parents to pitch in,” said Bell, who is an instructor in the school’s Employ program that teaches employment skills, and places students into internships and jobs.

The students also learned a lot on the golf course, too. They worked alongside other students in Patriot High School’s Interact Club, which is affiliated with the Gainesville – Haymarket Rotary Club. They helped register golfers in the tournament and to sell raffle tickets.

While the students work diligently during the week learning social skills at school and on the job, the weekend on the golf course proved to be a fun and unique experience for all students involved, said Bell.

Chick-fil-A Bristow is located at 9939 Sowder Village Square in Bristow.