Who would have thought that teeing off at one of 91原创鈥檚 premiere golf courses would help put food in hungry kids tummies?
For a dozen years now, 91原创 School District Foundation has been hosting its popular fundraising golf tournament every summer. This year, dozens and dozens of golfers are expected to hit the links at the Redwoods Golf Course on Wednesday, Aug. 30, with the goal of having fun and raising thousands for meal programs offered through the school district.
The event is raising funds to support the Food for Thought Campaign, explained foundation executive director Susan Cairns.
鈥淭he foundation hopes to be able to provide breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and backpacks filled with food to the more than 3,000 students who come to school hungry every day,鈥� she said Monday, noting that there鈥檚 room for 144 golfers (36 foursomes), and that all the spots are almost full.
鈥漌e started the campaign three years ago and have since established breakfast programs at 17 schools, snack programs at 14 schools, lunch programs at three schools and backpack programs at 25 schools,鈥� Cairns elaborated.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter how good the teacher is or how smart the student is. If the child is hungry, they might as well be asleep. They will never learn on an empty stomach. Please help us help our children. We have a goal to raise $50,000 per year - an amount that would ensure that every 91原创 student receives a nutritious breakfast and lunch. That amount would also allow us to initiate the Garden to Table program, where schools build greenhouses and gardens. Students learn to plan and build gardens and greenhouses and to plant, grow, harvest and prepare their own food from start to finish,鈥� she explained.
鈥淥f course we couldn鈥檛 do what we do without the help of our community partners, corporations, businesses, individuals, and associations who have come forward to provide funding and volunteers to support the programs.鈥�
Cairns went on to say that the tournament will also be raising funds to support the local Youth Homelessness Initiative. A recent survey revealed that more than 170 91原创 school district students were identified as homeless 鈥� kids out on the street with nowhere to go and no one to turn to.
鈥淣ow thanks, to various associations, including Encompass Support Services, the Township of 91原创, the provincial government, and the 91原创 school district and its students, a new youth housing resource is under construction and will be completed in September.
The foundation will be providing funding to support the centre鈥檚 meal programs and other on-going services, as required.
鈥淎s always, the very popular tournament features a day of fantastic golf on green-soaked acres with dozens of chances to win huge prizes. New this year, is the hole in two, featuring a certified golf pro who will offer to smack your ball an impossible 400 yards out onto the fairway. Once done, you just need to sink the next shot and you will be off on a $5,000 trip for two to Pebble Beach,鈥� Cairns said.
鈥淚f that is not enough, you also have a chance to win your choice of a Mediterranean, Caribbean, or Alaskan cruise. Or, you could score an ace and win a trip to the masters, a brand new car, or cold hard cash. And there鈥檚 more 鈥� the opportunities are endless,鈥� she said.
The day starts with registration at 10 a.m. Tailgate party starts at 10:30 a.m., and the shotgun goes off at 11:30 a.m. Dinner starts after golf at 5 p.m. There鈥檚 a silent auction and dozens of spectacular prizes.
The cost to play is $195 each or $725 for a foursome. At least 170 are expected for dinner only, and those tickets are only $60 each, while supplies last. Tickets are available by calling 604-532-1464 or can be ordered .
