THUNDER BAY — The 19th annual Mayor’s Mulligan golf tournament continued a strong fundraising run Friday as the charitable event prepares to enter its third decade.
The event was expected to raise around $15,000 for PRO Kids, a charity that helps children from lower-income families access recreational activities including team sports and arts programs.
That fundraising haul makes up a significant chunk of the roughly $110,000 that PRO Kids spends each year, said coordinator Laura Daniele.
That budget represents only part of the impact the organization has each year, she added.
“Many of our partners do not charge us, but others have to charge us — they all have overhead expenses,” she said. “They do cover 50 per cent or a third of the cost of programs, so we have a very nice formula going.”
Playing host at the Strathcona Golf Course on Friday, Mayor Ken Boshcoff called the event one important way community members are helping to address some of the most pressing issues facing the city, like poverty and access to recreation for children.
“Because of the need for organizations like PRO Kids, it makes this kind of tournament even more important,” he said. “So to see it sold out and see the community support is really invigorating for me.”
Daniele said the event had sold out early, with 25 teams of four taking to the course, where they played 18 rounds and took part in activities like a foot golf contest.
The event concludes with a dinner and a silent auction, featuring items like a kayak and a keg from Sleeping Giant Brewery.
Daniele said the chance to take part in a tournament at Strathcona is also part of the draw.
“I think the highlight of this event, other than that it supports PRO Kids, is we have an 18-hole tournament, and that never happens at Strathcona — we have to farm in golf carts for this… It is highlighting our city course.”
She added the event seems to be blessed with good weather year after year, with Friday’s gorgeous day on the green no exception.
It also offers a chance for attendees to chat with the mayor.
“One-on-one with the mayor is always available, but in an atmosphere like this when you’re on a golf course and everybody’s having a good sunny day, it’s even better,” Boshcoff said.
Boshcoff called his decision to hit a soccer ball rather than a golf ball in the traditional mayor’s tee-off both a lark and a “symbolic gesture.”
“The soccer ball went quite far, so let’s hope other parts of the soccer system keep going far,” he said, making a possible reference to a discussion council will hold on Monday over the future of a proposed indoor turf facility.
While PRO Kids is often associated with helping children access organized sports, Daniele noted it accepts applications for a wide range of recreational activities, from sports and yoga to music and performing arts.
Daniele called it an excellent model for supporting participation by kids from lower-income families.
“We refer these kids to the organizations they’ve selected, so the kid is doing what the kid wants to do, and then is integrated in programs with all other children.”
She added PRO Kids intends to keep running the event “as long as we can” given its success.
