Sow Good Now Volunteer Ben Mayer Is So Good At Making Others Happy

Some people simply find joy in helping others. Ben Mayer is one of those people. A rising junior at Garnet Valley High School, he was drawn to Sow Good Now’s mission of connecting volunteer athletes with youth in underserved communities through skill sharing and equipment drives. Thanks to an introduction from a neighbor, Ben’s search for a meaningful way to give back to his community beyond typical school clubs ended when he began volunteering at Sow Good Now in January. 

As an active student-athlete, Ben has been playing golf since age 11 and started training in karate when he was three years old. He is now a second-degree black belt, working towards his third degree. As a golfer, he currently has a two handicap, plays on Garnet Valley High School’s Varsity Golf team, and competes in the Junior PGA. 

Ben’s love for these sports inspired him to bring them to Sow Good Now. “I have been involved with volunteer work from a young age but as I have gotten older, I really wanted to give back in areas that I am passionate about,” Ben shared. “Since I’m a two-sport athlete, giving back through athletics was only natural.”

Collaborating with his karate school, East Coast Karate, he enlisted the help of fellow karate team members to organize a full-morning karate session for kids from Chester. He raised enough money to provide karate uniforms for all the kids participating in the workshop. “The most rewarding part was seeing the smiles on the kids' faces as they learned kicks, blocks and put their new skills to use by breaking boards,” said Ben. 

Additionally, when Sow Good Now planned a golfing event in July and needed junior golf clubs for children who couldn’t afford them, Ben went on a mission to find some. Reaching out to the community, local businesses, and country clubs, he was able to arrange for 71 sets of golf clubs to be donated. Ben teamed up with Team Toyota in Glen Mills, who generously donated $1,000 to the cause. This enabled Ben and his partners to provide not only clubs, but free golf lessons for the children!

“This coming school year, I will be looking to get student-athletes in other sports to join our mission,” Ben said. “Sow Good Now is an amazing organization and one that I am proud to be a part of. I just want to thank East Coast Karate Institute, the members at Concord Country Club, Team Toyota, Second Swing Golf and the community for their generous donations in support of my Sow Good Now mission.” 

Ben is a member of Garnet Valley High School’s Future Business Leaders of America. He’s excited about the idea of going to college. “Right now, I am looking into Golf Management Programs,” he said. “The skills I am learning with Sow Good Now will be great for this field!”