Birdies for the Children Charitable Foundation, a UNICEF success
By Jon Yaneff

Birdies for the Children founder Yuvish Singh, 11, is seen here with his father Vicky and his golf coach Gary Price, CPGA teaching professional at the Caledon Golf Centre.

Yuvish Singh is an 11- year-old golf phenomenon/philanthropist, whose views on life and the rest of the world are years ahead of his time.

Yuvish, a Canadian Junior Golf Champion, started Birdies for the Children Charitable Foundation in 2006, which supports UNICEF's vaccine program.

"For every birdie that I make on my tour (the Canadian Junior Golf Association) I donate $20 to UNICEF and for every eagle, $50," said Yuvish, who lives in Brampton with his family.

"The concept started when I was watching TV with my dad and we saw how children around the world don't have what we do, as they are struggling and don't have food or education," he explained. "I told my dad, let's help these children."

"I believe a child should get a vaccine when they are born," he added. "Because UNICEF only meets 40 per cent of the immediate vaccine for children, each year two million children still die from disease that could be prevented."

In 2006 he made 15 birdies and donated $300. That doubled in 2007 with 31 birdies, one eagle and $670 resulting (a birdie is one under par for a hole and an eagle is two under).

Yuvish started golfing at the age of two when his mom bought him a set of plastic clubs.

"After breaking a window at home I decided to take him to the diving range," said Yuvish's father, Vicky Singh. "He was just about three-years-old and had no understanding about the game, so I hired a coach to start teaching him the basics."

When Yuvish was about five they requested the tutelage of Gary Price, a Canadian Professional Golfers' Association (CPGA) teaching professional at Caledon Golf Centre (Highway. 10, north of King Street) and Bolton resident.

"Yuvish certainly brought some skills and a golf interest like you wouldn't believe," said Price, who caddied for Yuvish during his first CJGA tour event at the US Kids Golf World Championship. "When he came to me I was intrigued by how much he enjoyed golf and everything around it. He's put golf into perspective with his family life, gained experience and the results on and off the golf course are pretty amazing."

Price has been a golf teacher at the Caledon Golf Centre for about 15 years.

Yuvish won his first tournament at the CJGA Linkster series at Bushwood Golf Club in Markham in May 2004. Altogether Yuvish has won 10 tournaments and 43 medals on the tour, including his latest - the Florida Players Tour Sebastian Golf Club Classic in Sebastian, Fla. Jan. 26 and 27.

Last year he played 12 tournaments in Canada with 10 top 10 finishes and seven top threes, including a win last May at the Junior Worlds Qualifier at Beverdale Golf and Country Club to Kitchener.

Yuvish also played eight tournaments in the U.S., earning five top three finishes including two wins. When he finished the Canadian Tour in August he continued to play the Florida Junior Players' Tour.

Yuvish was ranked first in the boys' 11 and 12 CJGA Junior Linkster division last year. During his 12 tournaments on the tour he has accumulated 7,775 points and has topped the rankings in his category the past four years, with more than 70 players in the field.

But Yuvish is driven to make birdies more than anything.

"He used to come in the house after a tournament and say to his mom, that he came in first, second or third, now he announces his birdies to the household," said Vicky Singh. "The concept of making birdies is very exciting for him."

The more birdies he makes, the more money he donates to UNICEF. The young phenomenon is striving to raise millions of dollars for UNICEF and encourages corporations around the world to match his contributions to the world organization. Donations can be made at either Yuvish's website at www.birdiesforthechildren.c om or at www.unicef.ca

"I don't think you could pick a better charitable group, which is probably the foremost recognized organization for children around the world," said Price. "They've been very positive and encouraged by the idea, especially intrigued and supportive of the concept of young child suggesting the idea of raising money for children."

The Generation Company (a hotel Yuvish has stayed at during tournaments), Canif Golf and a couple of Toronto law firms are just a few corporations that have come on board to match Yuvish's donations.

Yuvish hopes to one day attend college and obtain a degree to become a lawyer like his parents, as well as earn a spot on the Professional Golf Association (PGA) Tour like some of his golf heroes of Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh (no relation).

Even though Yuvish has an over-the-top enthusiastic, save-the-world mentality, he remains grounded by exploring his other interests besides golf, such as fishing, playing ping pong with his dad, reading, playing video games and playing with friends. Yuvish is currently in Grade 6 and enjoys taking tests, studying the complexity of Algebra and world politics. He is home schooled by a tutor under the supervision of his parents.

Yuvish is also supporting UNICEF with his second annual Champions Fundraising Dinner, which last year raised $2,100 (According to UNICEF Canada. This year it will be at Lionhead Golf and Country Club (8525 Mississauga Rd. in Brampton) April 26 at 6:30 p.m. Lionhead has agreed for Yuvish to play there as a honourary member of the golf course.

Recognizable golf commentator and author Bob Weeks (Editor SCOREGolf Magazine, host of SCOREGolf TV/Radio, TSN Golf analyst and THE FAN 590 co-host and commentator) will be the keynote speaker at the fundraiser.

Tickets are $150 per person, as there will be cocktails, a dinner, a silent auction and dancing to the Royz Band. For reservations contact Simi Gill at (905) 495-1848 or Vicky Singh at (416) 931-5015.