Magrath charity golf tournament a win: “Spirits were high”

WWN FILE PHOTO

By Cal Braid
Westwind Weekly News

Magrath teed off their annual charity golf tournament on Sept.23 and it was a success. This year the Town awarded the tournament to the Magrath Elementary School (MES). Principal Julie Gilson provided a rundown of the day’s events.
“The weather was great,” she said. “It was a bit windy which made the experienced golfers dig deep and provided an extra challenge. Spirits were high and there was a lot of laughter and smiles as the teams made their round. The Gutta Percha Slingers (Cole Barnett, Connor Barnett, Mitch Maxwell, and Nolan Johnson) won with the lowest score. There were numerous other prizes handed out for longest drive, closest to the pin, and longest putt. A huge thanks goes to SASH for donating the meal following the tournament. This was an unexpected gift that added to the magic of the day.”
Gilson said that the proceeds from the golf tournament will go towards replacing an old section of the school’s playground.
“The new section will have pour-in-place ground cover, transfer height swings, a merry-go-round, and other apparatus that accommodate students in wheelchairs or with mobility challenges. It will be a fully accessible playground.” The school’s goal for completion is next fall, and they will be doing additional fundraising throughout the year, as well as applying for matching grants to accomplish their goal.
The school is primarily working with BDI Designs, but the town and other local companies have agreed to help with parts of the installation process. The Town donated to the golf tournament through a financial donation, draw prizes, and entered a team as well.
To promote the event, the MES used social media, emails, and door-to-door contact, along with numerous phone calls to businesses and companies for their support. Gilson said, “The amazing MES staff and school council were the work horses behind the event. (They) reached out to their families and friends as well to increase the buzz around the tournament.”
“We had 22 teams register and show up to golf. The course was full, and the game play moved well for the afternoon. We ended up with 30 different sponsors, from local individuals and businesses to large corporations. Our goal was to add $10,000 to our fundraising and I believe we achieved that. We have not done a final count after some expenses yet, but we will know that amount by the end of the day on Monday,” Gilson said.
“As a school we know we cannot do what we do without the amazing and continued support of this community. Our thanks goes (out) to all the businesses, individuals, and families that donated or participated in any way.”

Get More Westwind Weekly →