Teen golfer's Food for the Poor tournament raises money for Jamaica school

Though they had to dodge some spring rain, 22 foursomes played through at the Eighth Annual Rafe Cochran Golf Classic on April 29 to raise money for a school in Jamaica on behalf of 19-year-old Rafe Cochran of Palm Beach and Food for the Poor.

Proceeds from the event, held at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, will bring about construction at the Brompton Primary School in Brompton, Jamaica. It does not have space for its 499 students and its wooden structure is suffering from rot because of heavy rain. The money will help build four classrooms, an administrative unit and guidance counselor’s office, and a staff restroom.

Cochran began making a name in the golfing world when he was 6. At age 9, he became one of Coconut Creek-based Food for the Poor's youngest donors, raising money to build 10 homes in Haiti and six schools in Jamaica.

“Rafe is a rare individual whose compassion and wisdom are not limited by age, which is reflected in his personal motto: ‘You are never too young to take action and to make a difference,’” Food for the Poor CEO Ed Raine said. “We all marvel at his heartfelt generosity and commitment to changing lives through education, and we’re so grateful for his longstanding support of Food for the Poor.”

Cochran reiterated his commitment to schooling for everyone during the awards ceremony at the end of the tournament.

“The words of Nelson Mandela have always resonated for me: ‘Education is the most powerful weapon in which you can use to change the world,’” he said. “I feel that in order to change the landscape of a country, one must provide education in that country.”

Cochran's next endeavor is furthering his own education as a freshman and member of the golf team this fall at Emory University in Atlanta.

There is still time to raise money for Brompton Primary School. To learn more, visit foodforthepoor.org/rafe.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Teen golfer's Food for the Poor event raises money for Jamaica school