Golf tournament celebrates 31 years of giving back to the community

William McGinn, BGC Kawarthas Foundation

KAWARTHA LAKES: On Thursday, August 7th, BGC Kawarthas Foundation, formerly Boys & Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes Foundation, will host the 31st Annual Jeff Beukeboom Charity Classic Golf Tournament, at Pontypool’s Black Diamond Golf Club. Spots are still open, but fill up fast. If you wish to participate, you can sign up a team, of up to four golfers for the day, online, at www.bgckawarthas.com/golf.

The tournament is named after, former NHL player, Jeff Beukeboom and is one of the longest-running and most successful fundraisers for the Foundation. The first event, in 1994, was a nine-hole tournament at the Lindsay Golf & Country Club. It raised $3,600 to support child and youth programming. Over the last 30 years, this tournament has generated a total of $810,162.

“Our tournament wouldn’t be a success without the incredible support of Jeff Beukeboom, our sponsors (including Boyer Lindsay, the business community, and the hundreds of golfers) who have joined us over the years,” said Amy Terrill, Executive Director. “From the first tournament in 1994 to today, every dollar raised has supported children and youth in our community.”

The funds generated go towards a variety of benefits for children and youth, including: summer camps in Lindsay, Peterborough and Norwood; organized sports programs; the Warehouse Youth Centre which serves as a safe and accessible place for about 400 youth, operating the all-new Fenelon Falls youth centre called The Loft, and more.

The tournament includes: a shotgun start, scramble format, lunch, dinner, and live and silent auctions. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m., lunch at 10:30 a.m., and the tournament starts at noon.

Many local businesses and individuals also support the Golf Tournament, through Tee and Hole sponsorships and by donating items for their auction.

BGC Kawarthas Foundation raises money to support the programs at BGC Kawarthas, formally known as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes, and to provide direct subsidies to families. The Club is one of the area’s largest and most diverse child and youth-serving organizations. Established in 1970, it provides summer camps, before and after school programs, early learning, licensed childcare, child and youth counselling, infant development, music, sports, and recreation and adventure programs in the Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough.