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NEWS
The Glendale Star
August 19, 2021
TOURNEY FROM PAGE 1
tress who plays Wonder Woman. “I handed her my card and said she’d be the perfect Wonder Woman for one of my events,” he said. “Six hours later, I received an email from her mother. She said, ‘You met my daughter today. I work for the Glendale chief of police. You guys are legendary. I’m so proud that you would think my daughter would do something with you.’ “Back to the tournament, it’s going to be phenomenal. We have half the field to fill. Come have a blast with us.”
Superhero friends
Put on the Cape started in 2015, when he eyed a classic Batman poster and thought he should use posters and comic books to ease the fears of the kids he met as a child crimes detective. He soon found out it worked. Reavie was speaking to an abused child and, on a whim, he asked him about superheroes. The child’s demeanor changed and the two discussed “Avengers” and his love of Iron Man. Reavie soon made the connection between superheroes and adversity. Spider-Man lost Uncle Ben and was bullied and an orphan. Batman saw his parents die, and Iron Man had shrapnel in the chest. “I’m a comic book nerd from a small town with 2,000 people,” said Reavie, a Michigan native. “I kept myself believing in the hope of superhero mythology because it did so much for me when I was bullied constantly. “Hope is stronger than fear, and to see the look in the eyes of a little boy or girl when they see their heroes come to life is remarkable. The change is so electric, everyone gets chills.” Reavie uses superhero conversations and analogies to empower victims who end up at the centers. After a handful of successful fundraisers, Reavie was granted nonprofit status for Put on the Cape: A Foundation for Hope in 2019. Reavie recently opened a chapter in Houghton Lake, Michigan. “We’re doing a 5K and a Superhero fun run with kids during the halftime of the homecoming game in Houghton Lake,” he said. “We’re in negotiations to go into five other states at the end of the year.”
Raising funds
The golf tournament is Put on the Cape: A Foundation for Hope’s signature fundraiser. Bang energy drink and the Hooters team will hand out goodies to the 144 golfers. “A big part of what our foundation does is empower, encourage and educate,” he said. “This is the top fundraiser for the foundation, and it makes me so happy to see such an outpouring of support. We are raffling foursomes at the Legacy, The Raven and Talking Stick.” Awards will be given to champion
The third Superhero Golf Scramble, Presented by NeXus Rehab + Spine
(Above) Arizona Ranger Rob Shirley donated this handmade, wooden American flag for a previous raffle. (Left) A good time is had by all in attendance. (Photos courtesy of Sean Reavie)
golfers as well as second- and thirdplace teams. The Superman Long Drive Award is up for grabs on the men’s side, and the ladies vie for the Wonder Woman Long Drive Award. “People don’t even have to golf that well,” Reavie said. The event is a scramble, which means four players contribute to the score, rather than one individual. “Three guys can shank it into the woods,” he said. “The next guy can hit it onto the fairway, and it’s great. “We just want people to embrace these centers all around the Valley. People don’t know what goes on there. Their locations are secret. You don’t want people to find the children who were taken there because they were abused.
“These centers do not have a budget for action figures or T-shirts or even diapers and clothing. That’s why we’ve branched out.” A school resource officer now, Reavie finds his volunteer mission humbling. “I’m just a comic book nerd who had an idea that resonated with so many people,” Reavie said. “Another child crimes detective came up to me and was talking in a high voice. He said, ‘I can’t believe I’m meeting you. You’re doing everything we all wish we could.’ “We only have them for this small window. They tell us the worst story and then we never see them again. This is something I can do to improve everyone’s lives.” He’s adding child advocacy centers as he goes. The nice thing about that? “People have heard of me,” he said. “I don’t have to go through the elevator speech. They usually say, ‘Oh, my gosh. We’ve seen you on TV. We’ve heard about your events.” Another time, he stopped by FX Tactical in Peoria to pick up uniforms. The woman behind the counter, he said, looked like a young Gal Gadot, the ac-
WHEN: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 WHERE: Legacy Golf Resort, 6808 S. 32nd Street, Phoenix COST: $125 INFO: eventbrite.com, putonthecape.org
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS: The third Put on the Cape Superhero Shopping Spree WHEN: 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 WHERE: Five Below Superstore, 10092 W. Happy Valley Road, Peoria COST: Free; join superheroes and shop to fill the food pantry, toy closet and clothing wardrobe of the Southwest Family Advocacy Center INFO: putonthecape.org
The fifth Valley Spinal Care Superhero Shopping Spree WHEN: 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 WHERE: Five Below Superstore, 10092 W. Happy Valley Road, Peoria COST: Free; shop with superheroes and the real-life heroes from the Glendale Police Department’s crimes against children unit as they shop for wish list items. INFO: putonthecape.org
