By Naya Seth, Epic Kids Junior Reporter

Alexander Kaufman has been taking big swings and making a difference through golf. His father, a golf enthusiast, introduced him to the sport at the age of 3, and since then, Alexander has not only been winning awards but also doing good with the tournament he co-founded, the Florida Sunshine Cup. At an early age, he decided he wanted to give back to the community in a greater way—and he chose to do it through his passion for golf. He came together with two of his friends, Graden Lomax and Miles Russell, and with the help of their dads, the Sunshine Cup was born. The tournament takes place in Florida annually as part of the State Cup Series, and it has grown in success, with top junior players—including Charlie Woods and the founders themselves—coming together for a good cause.

Starting a tournament at such a young age taught Alexander skills that go far beyond the golf course, including communication and persistence. “Going door to door asking people for money for charity… you get some doors slammed in your face, and it’s hard to understand why people would do that, but you just have to learn to keep pushing,” he says. He learned the value of hard work and dedication. There were struggles at the beginning—like gaining traction for the tournament and finding a good venue to host it—but Alexander and his co-founders persevered, ultimately bringing the tournament to the success it enjoys today.

The Sunshine Cup raises money for two main organizations: the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) ACE Grant Program. For Alexander, the choice of foundation was inspired by his experience with his uncle, who had been diagnosed with diabetes and passed away when Alexander was nine. Founded by legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, the Nicklaus Foundation was the perfect fit. The Sunshine Cup became a reality with the help of the AJGA, and the founders were able to give back to them through the Liberty National ACE Grant Program. It’s a reimbursement program that helps underprivileged kids pursue their interests by covering the costs of golf. To apply, parents fill out a form detailing their current financial information.

Alexander is now 17 years old and has competed every year he’s been eligible. However, this year was his last, making it a bittersweet milestone. There’s a lot to love about golf, but for Alexander, it’s the peace he finds on the putting green. “Earlier in my career, I would’ve said that winning was probably my favorite part about golf, but now I would say my favorite part is the peace it gives me—it’s able to take my mind off of things.”

Co-founding this tournament has been one of his greatest accomplishments throughout his golfing career. In the past year, the tournament has raised $80,000, and since its launch, it has brought in over $500,000 for charities. The event is part of the Cobra Puma Golf State Cup Series—youth-led charity tournaments across 19 states with 25 Cups overall, all founded by junior golfers. Each tournament benefits the Liberty National ACE Grant Program and a charity of the founding golfers’ choice. The Florida Sunshine Cup consistently ranks among the top three in fundraising, with a full roster of 32 golfers participating each year.

Want to learn more? Visit floridasunshinecup.com