Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Mark McKenzie Of Golf for the Kids Is Helping To Change Our World

An Interview With Maria Angelova

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Surround yourself with Quality.

This is something my father would always preach to his children all the time when growing up.

Finding quality sponsors like the team at Mellow Mushroom, finding the Best Advisory Board Members, Friends of the Board, Volunteers, Golfers, and again all the other giving sponsors out there making a difference by being that difference.

That difference makes for consistency and that in itself builds a quality tournament year after year.

As a part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mark McKenzie.

For more than 47+ years Mark and his brothers have owned Docqmax Digital Printing.

As owners of a family business, they understand the value of giving back to the community they serve.

Mark’s, charity of choice has been Golf for the Kids where he has served as co-chair over the past 15 years. He is excited about the upcoming 17th annual event in October and the impact this event has on improving the lives of the children battling cancer at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path and point in your life?

Family:

17+ years ago at the Paradise Egyptian Arabian Horse Farm in North Georgia near Dalton, Georgia, my daughter about 11 years old at the time, and my wife were watching the showing of these amazing horses in a double indoor show arena. We had been there a while and I stated that the smell reminded me of my youth in the fields of Kansas. Standing next to me was a fellow member of the group I participated in called, Luxury Economics/Oxford Center for Entrepreneurs, we were all there visiting for the day.

It was then when fellow member Angie Rehkop asked what part of Kansas?

I followed up with “a small town you probably never heard of called Neodesha, Kansas.”

Angie promptly asked how I even knew how to pronounce, Neodesha properly.

I stated my this is where my Grandparents lived and I visited them regularly.

Well, it so happens that Angie’s Great, Great Aunt was the first non-native born in the town and her name was Neodesha.

Shortly after this, Angie had asked the members of the group for support of the golf fundraiser, she was putting on for the second year to help battle childhood cancer.

I realized that Angie and I were most likely kissing cousins, with our families being from the same very small farm town. I volunteered my company’s printing services, officially signed up Docqmax Digital Printing as a sponsor, and also played as a golfer.

I was impressed with what Angie was doing all by herself and I asked if she had plans to grow the net dollars.

She said yes, she did however mention she needed volunteers and board members and I was then immediately appointed to the new board.

Now almost 15 years later I co-chair this tournament with Angie, with the proceeds benefiting the AFLAC Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta along with supporting their Canines for Kids program, we are still battling childhood cancer.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?

You just couldn’t make a day like this up.

In the fall of 2020, we blew our numbers out of the water from the previous year’s event even with COVID-19 going on.

Golfers were just happy to get out there and participate.

As always, we had one of the service/therapy dogs from CHOA, “Bella” at the call of the carts. But what touched the heartstrings was when Jamie Brewer spoke about her family and her daughter Caroline at the time only six years old, ongoing journey to beat the cancer in her brain.

The story of the day was that after their presentation we sent the carts off for the day of golf. They proceeded to the 1st tee and Caroline, and her brother took a couple of swings at the ball and then wanted to take a shot at the buy-a-chance prize set up at the tee box. That is when a couple of golfers at the tee box paid for her and her brother’s ticket. Then at our Buy a Chance drawing later that day, low and behold Caroline’s ticket was drawn randomly for the jar. Since the prizes were Golf Balls, a golf bag, a cooler, which was full of beer, and a round of golf for four, her mother passed and had us redraw the ticket. The winner ended up being one of the gentlemen who purchased her and her brother’s tickets for the drawing earlier that morning.

You just couldn’t make a day like this up.

Please continue to pray for Caroline as she is still battling her cancer and has had a few more operations since this day.

However, she and her family plan to attend this year’s event come rain or shine.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I don’t know if this is funny. However, it was impactful enough that I double and triple-check it every year since.

A few years ago, we had a local car dealer Akins Ford which donated a Ford F150 to be awarded to the first individual of the day to hit a hole-in-one on one of the par 3 holes.

The truck was beautiful and the contest had a few requirements that needed to be in place for the legality of the award if someone hit a hole-in-one.

We had to have two witnesses at the hole to observe the actual accomplishment and they had to sign an affidavit. The other is that the tee box needs to be at a distance of a minimum of 165 yards away from the flag/cup.

Well, that day the club decided to move the cup to the front of the green, and that made the contest void by about 3–5 yards.

We were already underway with the tournament and it came to my attention that this was happening. I had to rush out to the tee box after maybe 2 or 3 foursomes had tried the shot for the hole-in-one. Luckily neither of them came close. We ended up moving the markers back to the very edge of the tee box to comply with the regulations. No one complained but there was very little wiggle room at that tee box.

However, on all the contest holes I double-checked to check everything complied on the day of the tournament.

We are still waiting for that hole-in-one.

Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?

Cancer sucks, it doesn’t care if you are a child or an adult, what race or nationality you are.

I have had close friends; and family members die from cancer and I am sure many if not most individuals can say the same.

It is the children that have to endure this battle that rattles my soul. I need to do something about it and this is why I decided to help Angie Rehkop with this great event. This is why I choose to be the difference.

Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?

We have had several young individuals over the years tell their personal stories with their family by their side, of their battle with cancer as a child and two of those individuals are young men. Currently cancer-free and starting their own families.

Then of course we have Caroline and her family.

Along with many others, we are helping. Our contribution may not be Millions but every little bit helps.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

Better healthcare (affordable) for all.

Cleaner environment and world.

Kindness! We don’t always know what others are battling or have to battle to make it through the day. So be kind to one another.

Are you working on any new or exciting projects now? How do you think this might help people?

Early on in our journey to provide an event everyone could get behind we realized that not everyone played golf.

One of our major sponsors’ marketing team was all female at the time and none of them played golf and our event didn’t get them excited. However, everyone on that team was dog lovers and that is when it dawned on us that a huge part of the healing process at CHOA was the service dog program.

Seeing the children interacting with the dogs and how those dogs and their team of handlers and doctors help the healing process we decided that we were going to earmark the first $15,000 raised for the Canines for Kids Program.

Over the years we have tried many things to support our cause and we are open to suggestions. It is all about winning the battle and then maybe we can find the cure for the war.

What you are doing is not easy. What inspires you to keep moving forward?

Before the COVID lockdown, we and the team at CHOA were allowed to give tours of the Aflac Cancer Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to our sponsors and prospective sponsors.

When doing this we visited parts of the hospital that were home to many of these young patients. When I say home some of these children and their families had been there for months battling. The harsh reality is not all of those families and the children win these battles.

If a child can battle cancer, go through all the treatments, and still have the will to win, while feeling puny, sick, lethargic, losing most of their hair, with some trying to stay up with their school lessons while being removed from their daily routines, pets, brothers, sisters, moms, dads, home and friends.

Just maybe I can put in a little bit of time, energy, and dollars to help with this nasty battle against cancer.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?

Be happy with the small wins, not everyone wins.

Every little bit helps and can make a difference. As I mentioned above not every gets to go home.

Not everyone shares your passion.

Not everyone plays golf. But who doesn’t like a dog? That is why we support the Canines for Kids program with the first $15,000 raised earmarked for the Dogs.

If you want to grow you need to start early.

We start planning for the next year’s outing as soon as the tournament is done. Corporations budget for their donations usually more than a year out. I along with many of the Advisory Board members started bragging about the previous year’s outing and it was then we started planting the seed for next year’s success.

Have a plan B and C.

Last year we were told a month before the actual date of our tournament the golf course we reserved had to be closed because they accidently burned out all their greens and had to rebuild them. Luckily, we had a couple of backup courses that were available on the same date we were able to just shift courses to Bear’s Best and they took care of us. It also helped that Angie is not a quitter and is very connected. It helps that she keeps our tournament book with all the information compiled over the years. The Good the Bad, the Ugly, Mostly the good is where it counts.

Surround yourself with Quality.

This is something my father would always preach to his children all the time when growing up.

Finding quality sponsors like the team at Mellow Mushroom, finding the Best Advisory Board Members, Friends of the Board, Volunteers, Golfers, and again all the other giving sponsors out there making a difference by being that difference.

That difference makes for consistency and that in itself builds a quality tournament year after year.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I didn’t come up with this but someone I have followed and who has inspired me for many years, Ivan Misner instills the belief that, “Givers Gain.” His business model is built on the foundation.

I am a firm believer that this is true and have witnessed the Gain always returned in abundance.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

My father would often say this, “If you want to be successful surround yourself with success.”

But the one that is near and dear to me is.

When I was waiting in the sanctuary with my groomsmen, my father, and my cousin Tim(the Duke). I was a little nervous and asked my father if he had any advice for his son who was about to be married. This advice I think about every day of my life especially coming from a father of ten children. It was one word, yet it is so powerful. That word was “Patience.”

Since then, I started my day praying for “Patience.”

Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

Tim Turner at Satisfeed Gwinnett. I would love to buy him lunch as he feeds 300+ families weekly, he feeds their bodies and souls with nourishment, encouragement, and faith. He truly makes a difference by being that difference daily.

Of course, there are two other individuals that I respect and admire who have made Atlanta a better place with their commitments to our community and they are Bernie Marcus and Authur Blank. Both make and have made a huge impact at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Golfforthekids.com and on Facebook, Golf for the Kids

Thank you so much for your time and for everything that you and your team do. It’s greatly appreciated.

About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.

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Maria Angelova, CEO of Rebellious Intl.
Authority Magazine

Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl.