UCLA Coach Jim Mora’s charity golf tournament raises $500,000

The Jim Mora Celebrity Golf Classic had big sticks -- CBS sportscaster Jim Hill buried a tee shot on the first hole ...

... and there was comedic shtick, as actor Kevin Nealon said, “They do wonderful work, but maybe we can have a charity fundraiser for my golf game.”

What it all produced was a financial windfall for Mora’s Count On Me Family Foundation. The UCLA coach and his wife, Shannon Mora, created the foundation eight years ago.

The event -- which included a dinner, silent auction and live auction -- raised more than $500,000 for the foundation, which has awarded grants to more than 60 children’s charities.

Sports figures and entertainment celebrities -- including Tim Tebow and actor John C. McGinley -- attended. Some even crossing party lines. Former USC quarterback Matt Leinart played, wearing a Trojans gold shirt.

McGinley announced upon arrival, “I have divorced my driver.” The two made up before the first hole. Then McGinley sliced into the trees. Reconciliation over.

The golf tournament was that kind of relaxed afternoon … except for the Marshall Faulk group.

One participant said, “I was in his group last year and he is such a good golfer and takes it so seriously that by the end of the day I felt like I had been through a workout.”

Faulk’s fivesome was the only group to forgo free drinks at the first hole.