The 11th Annual Charity Golf Classic had an exceptionally strong year with a record $120,660 in pledges raised by the golfers. The funds will purchase equipment for 16 facilities in 13 local communities in Sunrise Health Region. ?
"The Charity Golf Classic has golf teams from communities throughout this region participating and raising pledges, and we try to return that support by purchasing equipment for every healthcare facility in Sunrise Health Region," says Kim Sapara, Co-chair of the board of The Health Foundation.
"Obviously our golfers like the structure of the Charity Golf Classic as the tournament is full each year and the golfers are raising more money each year."
The sponsorships provided by 34 businesses cover the costs of the golf tournament, and the prize donations made by other businesses help us to keep the cost of the golf tournament very reasonable, so that 100% of the pledges collected by golfers are available to The Health Foundation to buy equipment. ?
There is tremendous support from individuals throughout the region for the tournament as well. This year 1,692 pledges were made to golfers; that's a huge number of people making pledges, and it shows how much work the golfers do raising funds for this tournament.
"We have to thank our presenting sponsors who did a great job organizing the tournament this year," says Ross Fisher, Executive Director of The Health Foundation.
The Presenting Sponsors contribute $2,500 each to help cover the costs of the tournament, but they also help to organize the Charity Golf Classic in addition to their financial donation. The presenting sponsors were: Mosaic Potash Esterhazy, SaskTel, LDM Foods Inc. and the Credit Unions of East Central Saskatchewan. ?
"While we had great support from the business community generally, we have to recognize CAA Travel," continues Fisher, "CAA has provided our top prizes for 10 consecutive years." ?
First prize this year was a seven-day Caribbean cruise two, second prize was a four-day trip for two to Las Vegas and 3rd prize was a $600 travel voucher with CAA.? ?
"In the eleven years of the Charity Golf Classic just over $730,000 has been raised and invested back into improving our local healthcare,"?Fisher says. ?
This year the top fundraising team was Kris Sapara, Kim Sapara, Dave Nussbaumer, and Laurie Fischer, who raised $32,215; the most any team has ever raised. They were presented with the Credit Unions of East Central Saskatchewan Top Fundraising Team Trophy.?
This was the first year ever The Health Foundation Charity Golf Classic had two teams raise over $20,000; also raising over $20,000 was Brent Murdoch's team, all of whom were from LDM Foods.?
The individual who raised the most pledges was Laurie Fischer of Winnipeg, who raised $13,450 and won the 7-day cruise. Linda Koroluk of CAA Travel presented Mr. Fischer his trip. ?
The cost of the trip is paid entirely by CAA Travel Saskatchewan, and The Health Foundation is grateful to CAA Travel for their annual support of the Charity Golf Classic.
Brent Murdoch, of LDM Foods, raised $13,085, the second highest amount of money, and won the trip for two to Las Vegas.
Ken Chyz raised $7,395 the third highest amount of money and won the travel voucher.
The remaining top 20 fundraisers won prizes sponsored by Canadian Tire.
The other golfers who raised over $1,000 in pledges are: ?Kim?Sapara, Kris?Sapara, Jerry?Palagian, Dave?Nussbaumer, Lesley?Stamatinos, Jack?Powell, Jim?Rediger, Perry?Froehlich, Bob?Martin, Tim?Hagon, John?Boulton, Don?Kunkel, Henry?Kereliuk, Eric?Sweeney, Dave?Dutcheshen, Cathie?Novak, Susan?Wrubell, Gordon?Reitenbach, Darryl?Flunder, Dom?Marchand,Brent?German, Dean?Klippenstine, Kevin?Kriger, Don?Bielinski.?
The Health Foundation extends a very sincere thank you to each and every golfer for their tremendous effort to raise funds to improve healthcare in our communities.
Remarkable this year was that almost all of the golfers showed up at the golf course for the tournament even though it rained all day.
"They stayed and golfed, and most everyone was present for the banquet and the awards," says Fisher. ?
The Health Foundation extends thanks and appreciation to all of the golfers and sponsors, who make the Charity Golf Classic possible. ?
The equipment that will be purchased from the Charity Golf Classic is arranged with the healthcare facility in each community before the golf tournament. Budgeting is based on the results of the previous year. If there is a surplus equipment is purchased that the whole region will use. ?
