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The 12th Annual Charity Golf Classic had another very strong year with golfers raising $105,894 in pledges. The funds will purchase equipment for 17 facilities in 12 local communities in Sunrise Health Region.

"We have to thank our presenting sponsors who did a great job organizing the tournament this year, continued Ross Fisher. 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 are: Mosaic Potash Esterhazy, SaskTel, LDM Foods Inc. and the Credit Unions of East Central Saskatchewan.

"Three years ago LDM Foods came on board as a presenting sponsor and helped us to take the Charity Golf Classic to a new level, said Mr. Fisher. In addition to sponsoring they enter two teams of golfers in the tournament and ask their golfers to raise pledges. Adding another eight golfers that are always raising well over $1,000 has spurred interest and competition among some of our top fundraisers. In the three years LDM has been a Presenting Sponsor their teams have raised over $45,000 in addition to the sponsorship money and volunteer time they provide.

"We like being involved with this tournament since the proceeds are spent on medical facilities throughout the health region, where many of your clients, customers and employees live" said Darryl Flunder, procurement manager for LDM. Healthcare is a good cause, because it is a universal need, eventually everyone will use the healthcare system, and when we need it we want good facilities and equipment.

The sponsorships provided by 46 businesses covered 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 buy equipment.

There is tremendous support from individuals throughout the region for the tournament as well. This year 1,485 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

"While we had great support from the business community generally, we have to recognize CAA Travel," continued Mr. Fisher. "CAA has provided our top prizes for 10 consecutive years."

First prize this year was a 7-day Caribbean cruise for two, second prize was a 4-day trip for two to Las Vegas and 3rd prize was a $600 travel voucher with CAA.

"In the twelve years of the Charity Golf Classic over $830,000 has been raised and invested back into improving our local healthcare,"

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.

The individual who raised the most pledges was Laurie Fischer of Winnipeg, who raised $11,625 and won the 7-day cruise. Roseanne Yanke 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.

Ken Chyz, of Yorkton, raised $8,275, the second highest amount of money, and won the trip for two to Las Vegas.

Dave Nussbaumer raised $5,170 the third highest amount of money and won the travel voucher.

The remaining top 20 fundraisers won prizes sponsored by Canadian Tire. They are:
Suann Laurent
Jeff Whyte
Jerry Palagian
Jack Powell
Perry Froehlich
Bob Martin
Henry Kereliuk
John Boulton
Rick Kozmaniuk
Eric Sweeney
Colin Liebrecht
Cathie Novak
Derek Lomenda
Brandy Mitschke
Darryl Flunder
Elvia Torres
Gary Skjerven
Kaley Vanin
Matt Novak
Dick DeRyk
Brent German

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.

The equipment that will be purchased with proceeds from the Charity Golf Classic is arranged with the healthcare facility in each community before the golf tournament. That list is put together based on the results of the previous year.

The members of the 2011 Charity Golf Classic Organizing Committee are: Chair, Jerry Jemieff of Autohire; Sheila Johnson of SaskTel; Don Bruner representing Mosaic Potash Esterhazy, Corvyn Neufeld for the Credit Unions of East Central Saskatchewan, Jeff Whyte of LDM Foods Inc., John Neufeld and Ross Fisher.