Tuesday, November 6, 2007

The irony in this situation has no bounds

The Naked Truth About Charity Golf Tournament
From wsbtv.com

ATLANTA -- An Atlanta woman’s shelter said it’s both shocked and outraged that a golf outing featuring nude dancers claimed, without permission, that it was a charity event to raise money for the shelter. An undercover investigation by Channel 2 Action News found the tournament, organized by a company that owns a cluster of Atlanta strip clubs, did not get approval to use the charity’s name.

Charity golf outings are popular in the adult entertainment business. Participants pay big bucks to drink and play while surrounded by scantily clad or totally nude dancers. The outing Channel 2 producers investigated last month may have broken several laws according to Fulton County Police. And they have another problem, claiming they were hosting the charity for a shelter that rescues women and children from the streets of Atlanta.

It was a beautiful fall day for golf at the Wolf Creek Golf Club. Sunshine, a gentle breeze and some sights you probably wouldn’t expect -- strip club dancers walking around with less than proper golf attire.

“It’s appalling, I mean, there’s children that ride through here. I’m walking with my baby and I would hate to see that,” said homeowner Dorene Gardner.

Well over a hundred dancers converged out on putting greens and fairways. Many were totally naked.

The signs in more open areas of the golf course told dancers to keep their bikinis on. But from the back decks of some homes, there was a clear view of women who were partially or totally nude.

The scene happened about a hundred yards from a cul-de-sac where children were playing football.

“I am terribly upset about that. I had no idea we would have that kind of activity in the neighborhood,” said resident Shirline Johnson.

The supposed charity golf outing was advertised in Creative Loafing and sponsored by a group of adult nightclubs. The cost was $175 per golfer. Alcohol was flowing and dancers charged $300 to caddy.

Organizers told Channel 2 producers that it was all for a good cause. The money raised would help support the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children. We thought we’d show them some pictures of what happened on the golf course.

“That’s a naked lady…oh my gosh she is naked,” said shelter director Shirley Baker. “I can’t even believe they would do this. We are a Christian-based ministry and there is no way…oh wow.”

The shelter operations manager told Channel 2 they were never informed that a nude golf charity event was being staged using their name. They said they would never accept money raised in that fashion.

“To attach our name to something like this, that’s deplorable,” Baker said.

So what did the strip clubs have to say about falsely using the name of a shelter for battered women for their nude golf charity event? And where did all that money go?

The event organizer, Dan White, didn't have much to say. He slipped back into the Gold Rush Show Bar before Channel 2 could ask a single question. He sent a blunt message through his security guard. “No comment. That’s what I was told to say,” the security guard said.

Channel 2’s Tom Regan also did not get much help form the manager of the golf shop. He said he didn’t know anything about the fundraiser. “Where are the nude women? You got nude women here? If we had that going on do you think my parking lot would be as empty as it is,” asked golf shop manager Andre Jones.

The company that owns the adult clubs, Garaldi South, faxed Channel 2 a copy of a $750 cashiers check which their lawyer said was dropped off at the front desk of the shelter last month. The shelter’s director and financial administrator said they never received a check nor is Jack Garaldi in any of their records.

“That’s trash. To attach our name to something like that is totally wrong,” said Baker.
Garaldi’s lawyer said after expenses the event lost money.

The event did not have the appropriate legal permit to pour liquor and according to state officials, was violating the law. Fulton County police also said the women dancers likely violated laws prohibiting public nudity.

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