Emily Maynard is using her celebrity to help at-risk children

Charlotte's own reality TV celebrity, Emily Maynard ("The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette"), will be part of the A Better World Charity Golf Tournament on April 29 at Cedarwood Country Club, 4100 Pineville-Matthews Road. The title sponsor for the event is C.A. Short. 

The 12th annual event raises money for the mission of A Better World, a Charlotte nonprofit that helps at-risk children in the Ashley Park neighborhood and surrounding areas by providing programs between 3 and 6 p.m. on weekdays after school - a time when children with working parents are especially vulnerable. Thanks to A Better World supporters and volunteers, 55 youths are given homework assistance, tutoring, mentoring, and a hot meal five afternoons a week. The children and their families are also provided with access to counseling and necessities including toiletries.

Linwood Bolles, A Better World's chairman of the board, told me that Emily called and said that she doesn't know which end of a golf club to hold up so she wouldn't be able to play, but that she wanted to be there. "She's passionate helping children and wants to volunteer and help out any way she can," he said. 

Right now, 18 teams of four players will be participating, and ideally that number will increase to 24 teams. Thanks to support from board member Jon Richardson and the Richardson family, at least one Carolina Panthers player will be participate in the tournament and Panthers memorabilia is part of the silent auction after the tournament.

The tournament starts at 9 a.m. If, like Emily, you're not a golfer but still want to participate, you can attend the reception that begins at 1:30 p.m. and bid on the wide range of auction items. 

For details about playing, or just attending the reception and silent auction, go to www.abetterworldcharlotte.org. 

Emily, who has started a fashion and lifestyle blog, was featured in the March issue of Allure magazine where she announced she has started a jewelry line, Emily Maynard for Towne & Reese, that's available on her web site, www.emilymaynard.com. 

Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson