Wake Monarch Academy

5th Annual Recovery Golf Classic
2025-04-30 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Lonnie Poole Golf Course, 1509 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27606, United States
Wake Monarch Academy’s Annual Recovery Golf Classic is attended by nearly 150 individuals at the beautiful Lonnie Poole Golf Course, the only collegiate golf course in the world designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer. All proceeds raised from this tournament go directly to support the mission of Wake Monarch Academy, the Triangle’s first and only recovery high school. Your support ensures that adolescents in recovery from a substance use disorder have a safe, sober environment in which to receive an excellent education. Additionally, your contribution helps to build our scholarship fund so that students from all socioeconomic backgrounds have access to this critical recovery resource.

Third Annual Gala for Recovery
2025-02-22 18:00 - 21:00 | NC State University Club, 4200 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27606, United States
Wake Monarch Academy is pleased to host our third annual Gala for Recovery. This formal attire/black-tie optional event will feature dinner, spirit-free cocktails, a silent auction, a live auction, and a paddle raise. We are thrilled to announce that this year’s guest speaker will be Major League Baseball legend, Darryl Strawberry, and the emcee will be Renee Chou from WRAL-TV.

About Wake Monarch Academy

Wake Monarch Academy is the Triangle’s first and only recovery high school. Our mission is to provide a recovery-based environment for students to successfully pursue academic, personal, and professional goals. We’re a private, nonprofit organization that provides a high school experience in a peer-driven setting.

June 2024 graduates accomplished:

Celebrated

1200+

sober days

Average

3.0+

GPA

Graduated

3

students in 2024

About Darryl Strawberry

Darryl Strawberry is described as a legend by many who have been dazzled by the dynamics of his game, the power he possessed at the plate and the story of redemption that continues to bring hope to so many lives.

He has earned the legendary nicknames and phrases of one of the most feared home run hitters in the game of baseball, Straw’s Sweet Swing, Strawberry’s Field Forever and The Legendary Straw Man!

Though Darryl was extremely successful in his career, his personal life was plagued with addictions, abuse, divorces, cancer, jail-time and other issues. Darryl finally found true redemption. Come hear his story.

About Renee Chou

Renee Chou is a three-time Emmy award-winning anchor/reporter for WRAL-TV News. She’s anchored WRAL Morning News now for nearly 10 years. You can wake up with her every weekday morning on WRAL from 4:30 to 7 a.m. and from 7 to 8 a.m. on Fox 50. She also anchors WRAL’s Noon Newscast, anchoring 4.5 hours of live TV every day in addition to special assignments. She joined WRAL in October 2004 as a general assignment reporter. Through the years, she served as the weekend morning anchor and weekend evening anchor.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Special Sponsorship Offer: Gala for Recovery & Recovery Golf Classic
2025-02-22 17:00 - 21:00 | North Carolina
Sponsor both the Gala for Recovery and Recovery Golf Classic and save 20%!

Wake Monarch Academy is excited to introduce a unique opportunity to support two incredible fundraising events! By securing a single sponsorship or participation ticket, you’ll gain sponsorship and entry to both the Third Annual Gala for Recovery and the Fifth Annual Recovery Golf Classic. Don’t miss this chance to make a meaningful impact while enjoying these memorable events!

Be the Light 5k
2024-09-14 09:00 - 15:30 | Apex Friendship High School, 7801 Humie Olive Road, Apex, North Carolina, 27502, United States
Event Registration is now open! Click on the button below. Sponsorship opportunities still available. Looking to sponsor? Click here!

Event Registration

The 5th Annual Be the Light 5K is directed by Michelle Umstead and is held each year to honor the memory of her son, Matthew, who passed away in 2018 after a struggle with substance misuse.

Proceeds from the race will go to support Wake Monarch Academy in Raleigh, whose primary purpose is to create programs and environments aimed at the prevention, reduction of and recovery from substance misuse by adolescents in the Triangle area of North Carolina.

One can register as a competitive entry and receive an official time, be listed in the official results, and be eligible for one of the awards. One can also register as a recreational entry. Recreational entries are usually those who are participating mainly to support the cause and are not concerned about their official finish time or being eligible for awards. However, all finishers will be able to see their finish times at a clock at the finish line.

The entry fee is $35 (increasing to $40 on race day) with includes a shirt guaranteed to all registered by noon on September 6. One can also support the race by registering as a virtual participant for $45 which includes a shirt if registered by August 28th. Shirts will be mailed.

A family of 5 or more can register for $145 which includes a shirt to each member if registered by noon on September 6. Finally, one can register a virtual family for $165 with shirts guaranteed to all registered by August 28.

Additionally, in honor of Matthew’s birthday month, his family will be matching all additional donations (up to $5,000) during the month of July. Help us turn $5,000 into $10,000 by giving a little bit more. Each extra amount helps no matter how big or how small.

Late entries can register and pre-registered entrants can pick up their packets on Thursday, September 12, from 5:30 – 7:00 pm at 1808 Versa Court in Apex OR on race day at the high school beginning at 8 am.

Awards will be given to the top male overall, to the top female overall, and to the top finishers in the following age groups (both male and female): 13-under, 14-18, 19-30, 31-40, and 41 and over.

Thanks to Our Sponsors!
