Black Athletes in the Spotlight: HBCU Sports & Local Highlights
Christopher T. Everett, founder and president of the RLE Go Fore It! Foundation, has built an inspiring mission rooted in service, mentorship, and the transformative power of golf. At 45 years old, Everett reflects on a journey shaped by family, community, and a desire to open doors for young people who may have never considered the game as a place where they belong.
His introduction to golf began quietly, long before he understood what it would eventually mean to him. As a young man, his uncle, Clarence Robinson, gifted him a mismatched set of clubs from his days caddying in Delray Beach, Florida. “I appreciated the gesture, but at that time, I wasn’t familiar with the game at all,” Everett, an Eagle Scout and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity member said during an interview with this publication. Those clubs sat untouched for years until a close friend offered what became a life-changing invitation. While coping with his father’s cancer diagnosis, Everett’s friend Curtis Joe spotted the clubs in his garage and suggested a trip to the driving range. “That simple invitation was the spark,” Everett recalled. “For the first time, golf gave me something I didn’t know I needed—peace.”
That moment led Everett to coworkers JoAnne and Dale, who helped him understand the fundamentals and accompanied him on his first round. The effect was immediate. During those four hours on the course, he found space to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with himself. “I found a place where I could exhale,” he shared, describing how the course became a place of grounding during challenges his family faced.
Everett carried that renewed energy with him as he continued to build connections both personally and professionally. Golf became a tool for relationship-building and a bridge to unexpected opportunities. After graduating from North Carolina Central University with a degree in Criminal Justice and competing in college football, Everett learned to use the game to expand his network and inspire others.
In 2022, those experiences led to the creation of the RLE Go Fore It! Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization named in honor of his father, Ronald L. Everett. The foundation emerged shortly after the publication of Everett’s book, “Go Fore It!: A Family and Golf Story,” and was designed to bring the book’s message to life. Its mission focuses on three pillars: exposure, mentorship, and scholarships. The inaugural event, held at Martin Downs Golf Club in Palm City, Florida, set the tone for what the organization could become. With the generosity of course owner Stanley Campbell and partnerships with the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County, Everett and his team introduced 20 teenagers to the game in an unforgettable two-day experience.
Since then, the foundation has expanded its reach to cities across Florida and South Carolina, introducing more than 200 young people to golf and interviewing diverse professionals through its Life on Par podcast. The organization has awarded over $10,000 in scholarships to high school seniors pursuing college degrees and trade certifications. All of this has been accomplished through a 100 percent volunteer board, personal donations, early supporters, and a 2024 grant from the Make Golf Your Thing initiative.
As the foundation prepares for its 5th Annual Signature Golf Weekend on May 15–16, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Everett emphasizes both gratitude and purpose. He credits corporate sponsors, community partners, and especially his family for their encouragement. His wife, Kimberly, designed both his book cover and the foundation’s website, providing the creative backbone of the organization. Their children, along with Everett’s mother and sister, motivate him to keep building a legacy that honors the initials RLE.
Everett remains committed to expanding the foundation’s reach, strengthening corporate partnerships, and continuing to open doors for youth. In his words: “When you take steps toward your dreams, people and organizations will step up to help—you just have to start and be willing to ask.” To Learn more about RLE Go Fore It visit https://goforeitusa.com/foundation
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