DRIVE for show, putt for dough.
A LOT of dough.
After 13 years of running charity golf tournaments, Access Credit Union has broken through the $1-million mark in fundraising.
This summer’s event — which included two separate tournaments for the fifth consecutive year, one in Morden and another in Starbuck — raised a whopping $142,159, the most in its history.
“What a great accomplishment for our communities and for the charities we’re supporting,” says Adam Monteith, chief corporate affairs officer at Access.
This year’s beneficiary of the generosity of Access clients, employees and friends is the Dream Factory, a Manitoba-based charity that provides unforgettable experiences for children facing life-threatening illnesses.
There had always been a significant demand for the tournament during its early years when it was held at the Minnewasta Golf and Country Club in Morden, so the credit union’s brain trust wondered if they could go any bigger.
Indeed they could. This year was the first in which both venues sold out. In fact, due to extra interest, there were two extra foursomes in Morden, making it technically oversold. After raising $27,500 in the first year, Monteith is confident the second million dollars will come in far less time.
“It’s open to anybody — our sponsors, our members, the general public and other supporters. They keep coming back for more. They sign up for the wait list immediately,” he says. The tournament is a scramble format and while you can pick up a score card in the pro shop, there are no prizes for shooting the lights out.
“We’re keeping score for the charities.
If you want to hand in your scorecards, we’re happy to post them online to name and shame you,” Monteith says with a laugh.
