RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Scot Pollard, the former Sacramento Kings center and recent subject of ESPN’s “Heartof Pearl” documentary, is returning to Rancho Murieta for the Gold Rush Classic Golf Tournament on Aug. 7 and 8.

This will be Pollard’s third appearance at the Rancho Murieta Country Club tournament, and this year’s return carries a deeper meaning.

“Well, it’s such a great event, and it’s a great cause: Jordan’s Guardian Angels,” Pollard said. “And this year, John (Jacobs) has pledged to include Dawn’s, my wife’s, charity, Pearls of Life.”

Founded by Dawn Pollard after Pollard’s lifesaving heart transplant in 2024, Pearls of Life is a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about organ donation and supporting families navigating the emotional and financial strain of the transplant process.

“The purpose of our charity is education,” Pollard said. “There are a lot of myths out there about organ donation. We want to help people understand the truth so they can make informed decisions. I never say, ‘Please be a donor.’ I say, ‘Please consider being a donor.’”

He added that most people change their minds quickly once they understand the facts.

“Almost everyone I talk to says, ‘I didn’t think about it like that,’ and then they sign up. And it’s not under pressure, it’s just education.”

The inspiration for the charity arose during one of the most challenging moments of their lives. As Dawn Pollard sat in a hospital waiting room, hoping a heart would become available for her husband, she realized something startling.

“She said, ‘I’m sitting here waiting for a heart for my husband, and I’m not even a donor,’” Pollard recalled. “She signed up on the spot at three o’clock in the morning. And that’s what started Pearls of Life.”

The charity also hopes to ease the burden for families who, like the Pollards, must leave home for weeks or months for a transplant. During Pollard’s time at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the couple had to rent an apartment, coordinate childcare and live without an income.

“Even with all our resources, we were broke,” he said. “A friend of ours started a GoFundMe, and it saved us. But not everyone has that network.”

Traveling to tournaments like the Gold Rush Classic is not easy for Pollard. He is immunocompromised, requires careful rest and has to be cautious in crowds and airports. But he said this event is worth the effort.

“I golfed once about a month ago, and it wore me out,” he said. “But when I can rest up, I can do it. The key is not getting sick on the flight and not being around too many people. It’s a lot of luck with the things I can’t control.”

Despite the risks, he sees his presence as part of his new role.

“I’m not able to work anymore. My job now is being a spokesperson for this mission,” he said. “When we show up at an event, it’s because it truly matters.”

Pollard said the charity does not pay him a salary. Donations help cover travel expenses, allowing him to attend events and continue raising awareness.

“I got an extension of life, and I didn’t do it to make money,” he said. “I did it to make memories with my family and to help others. If I can use my story to make a difference, then I’m going to keep doing it as long as I can.”

As for returning to the Sacramento area, Pollard said the pull is more personal than professional.

“It’s not about the Kings,” he said. “It’s about the people I met here and the friendships I still have. I won’t be able to see everyone this time, and that hurts. But I’m coming back because this is a good event, for a good cause, with good people.”

The Pollards will stay in Rancho Murieta during the tournament. They’ll fly in Wednesday night from Indianapolis and return early Saturday morning, just in time to see their youngest son off on his first day of fourth grade.

“We didn’t want to miss this,” Pollard said. “So we’re making it work. But like I said, we only go to events that are worth it. And this one is.”

For more information or to support the cause, visit www.pearlsoflife.org.

Celebrating its sixth year, the Gold Rush Classic is a celebrity pro-am golf tournament that will feature a celebrity challenge, a $1 million hole-in-one contest, a celebrity draft party, and a Stars and Guitars concert with live music. For more details, visit  https://birdease.com/Goldrushclassic .