By Christopher Holland • The Current Contributing Writer
Since its inception in 2014, Mauch Chunk Charity Foundation in Jim Thorpe has raised more than $30,000 for a multitude of organizations and causes including cancer research, scholarship funds and more.
The nonprofit is now gearing up for its annual charity golf tournament to be held April 27, 2019 at Mountain Valley Golf Course in Barnesville, PA.
Over the years, the annual event has raised thousands of dollars for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Lehigh Valley Chapter, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Shriners Hospitals for Children, and many others. This year, the organization is keeping it close to home and donating all proceeds from the event to Jim Thorpe native, Kevin Doll, who recently has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
“Kevin has been a close friend to the members of our organization for many years, and he’s helped support our mission since our founding,” said Mark Donnelly, a co-founder and board member of MCCF.
“Now it’s our turn to help him,” Donnelly said.
The idea for creating the charity foundation came about from the organization’s members’ passion for golf. They were interested in starting a golf tournament just for fun but, after a few meetings and figuring out logistics they realized that they could turn it into something bigger. After proper planning, hard work and participation from the local community, the organization raised more than $4,000 at its first tournament that was donated to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
“After the success of the first tournament we knew that this was going to be something special,” Donnelly said.
It’s with the help of the local business community that really makes the charity’s events possible, and it’s currently seeking sponsorships and donations for the April 27 event.
Businesses have the opportunity to advertise through tee-box and green sponsorship. For a $75 tee-box sponsorship, you can have your business advertised on a sign and acknowledgment in the player program. The number of tee-box sponsorships are unlimited, meaning you can advertise on up to 18 tees. There can be multiple businesses sponsoring a single tee. For a $100 green sponsorship, you can have a private advertisement on a green and acknowledgement in the player program. There is only one green sponsor per hole. Your business would be the only advertisement on that green.
The sponsor opportunity not only available for advertising your business but, also to promote any upcoming events that your company or organization will be hosting.
MCCF is also accepting other donations, either monetary or gift cards.
During the dinner hour following the event, each participant of the tournament will have the chance to win a prize. These prizes vary from golf clubs, clothing, other merchandise and gift cards. If your business is unable to sponsor a tee-box or green, donating gift cards to be given away as a tournament prize is an alternative. All donations are recognized in the player program, and during the dinner hour while awarding prizes.
The organization is also seeking players to play in the tournament. The entry fee is $75 per player, or $300 per foursome.
The tournament is in the format of a four-man scramble. All players/teams must be registered and paid in full by Saturday, April 13, 2019. The tournament has a 10:00 a.m. shotgun start and all players are to be registered and at their assigned starting hole by 9:45 a.m. Registration will be inside the pro shop or outside (weather permitting) at Mountain Valley from 8-9:30 a.m. The $75 player fee includes greens fee with a cart, a prize ticket, unlimited beer on the golf course (and soda and water), and a buffet style dinner following the event including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. There is also a cash bar inside the banquet hall. MCCF requests that you do not bring your own alcoholic beverages.
During the event, there will be contests and games throughout the golf course including a marshmallow drive contest, a relay race putting contest, a chipping contest and more. There will also be a pot-of-gold hole, closest to the pin and long drive contests for both men and women.
If you’d like to sponsor, donate or play in the event, you can obtain the necessary information of how to register by contacting MCCF at mauchchunkcharityfoundation@gmail.com or reaching out directly to any board member.
The board members are Mark Donnelly, Brian Hawk, Jay Llewellyn, Harry Pry, Christopher Holland, Becky Hawk and Meredith Koons.
The organization can also be reached via its Facebook page.
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