October 2026

Last month, our annual Golf Classic reminded me of something simple: the same things that make a golf outing successful, are the same things that make a community strong.

When people from different backgrounds come together for a common good, it is a pretty formidable combination.

Community partnerships can expand lifelong learning, independence and connection for older adults. That is why our partners are so important to Next’s success, and the Golf Classic was a testament to that support with over twenty sponsors, several new and many returning.

Robertson Brothers Homes, our tournament sponsor, joined us for the first time this year. With the aligned value of building community, they were a perfect fit, and by the end of the day, it seemed like we were old friends.

Hubbell, Roth, & Clarke returned and earned a big round of applause for buying drinks at the reception, a small moment that said everything about the spirit of giving. Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett kept every golfer stocked with golf balls, (you need plenty of balls when you are losing them all day). And longtime realtor Susan Hill increased her support this year to make sure our swag bags were the coolest anyone has walked away with.

Then there were the golfers themselves who came to support Next and turned the day into something more. Two different pairs of old friends, who were randomly matched up, had so much fun they've already made plans to golf together again next year. Then there were the women who leaned all the way into our western theme, with matching shirts and cowboy hats, a sisterhood on full display. A foursome, from four different healthcare companies, who make a point of bringing each other to this outing every year, spent the day exactly the way they always do: supporting Next, networking, and enjoying each other's company.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because people who care about Next and this community keep showing up for it. Some for the first time, some for the tenth. A sponsor doesn't support the tournament only because it's good marketing. A golfer doesn't wear a matching cowboy hat just because someone told her to. People do these things because they feel like they belong to something worth being part of.

That's the same thing we're building every day at Next. Caring for seniors in our community isn't one program or one grant. It's decades of small, consistent gestures that add up to trust. Trust we are working to make the days of every older adult a little more enjoyable, more fulfilling, and a little easier.

As we look toward our future, including our move to 400 E. Lincoln, it's worth remembering that the biggest asset we have isn't a building or a budget line. It's the trust and goodwill of the people who believe in what we're doing enough to show up, to sponsor, to laugh, and come back next year. On the golf course under a blue sky, that sense of belonging was easy to recognize.

Thank you to every local merchant that contributed to our silent auction, and the golfers and sponsors who made it a day to remember; your generosity truly fuels our mission.

Cris Braun is Executive Director of Birmingham Next