By Bonnie Culverhouse
Webster Parish communities are comprised of giving and sharing people. Specifically in Minden, two organizations – UCAP (United Christian Assistance Program) and Minden Foundation – depend on donations to help them help those who are in need.
Every year UCAP and b1 Bank work together to host the biggest fundraiser for the organization – the annual golf tournament at Pine Hills Country Club in Minden.
Want to help?
Tournament Director Andy Pendergrass said there are important cogs in the wheel of the tournament event – scheduled for June 29 and 30 this year – and right now, the focus is tournament sponsorships.
“Sponsorships are very important to the tournament,” Pendergrass said. “The event is not about the golf tournament, it’s about raising money for UCAP.
“It’s so, so important to the health of UCAP, and this tournament is their primary source of fundraising,” he continued, “along with the dessert auction.”
According to Pendergrass, John Earnhardt, Jay Kumar, John McConnell and Fred Cabaniss are “transitioning” the running of the tournament to others, but are instrumental in contacting past sponsors to continue that tradition.
Again, want to help?
There can never be too many sponsors and there is no deadline for sponsorships.
“Those sponsorships go straight to the bottom line of the fundraiser,” he said. “They absorb most of the cost of the tournament.”
Cost for a Gold Sponsorship is $1,000 and includes two teams (2-man scramble) and a hole sign.
Silver sponsorship includes one team and a hole sign. It is $500.
Hole sponsor is $150 and a sign on one of the holes during the tournament.
For Gold and Silver sponsors, a prominent sign recognizing the sponsorship will be on the golf course and the sponsorship will be recognized at a dinner at Pine Hills Country Club Saturday.
Non-sponsor teams are welcome. Cost is $300 per team.
Checks should be made payable to UCAP and mailed to P. O. Box 314, Minden, LA 71058 or dropped at b1 Bank, 100 MBL Bank Dr., Minden.
Entry forms for the tournament are available now.
“The teams are equally as important as the sponsorships,” Pendergrass said. “Last year we had a full field of teams – 60 – and we want nothing less this year.”
Last year, the tournament raised $35,000 for UCAP.
In addition to handing over the reins of the tournament planning, there is another possible transition in the works.
Pendergrass, who is also heavily involved in Minden Foundation and its tournament, said the two entities are considering consolidation for one big tournament event that will include participants of the UCAP tournament and Minden Charity Classic.
“We’ve talked about the potential of a charity championship,” he said. “It would be for people who played in both tournaments.”
But that’s still in the planning stages and something to anticipate for golfers and members of a giving community.
* The purpose of UCAP is to offer emergency food for those in need. Some of its services include rent and/or utility assistance and clothing for adults and children. It is a non-profit, non-denominational cooperative effort of Christian churches in the Minden area. All workers at UCAP are volunteers. Ninety percent of funds raised go toward helping individuals and families.
