Raising money one putt at a time

After a stretch of lacklustre weather, Monday was the perfect day to hit the links - just in time for the 12th edition of the Kateri Memorial Foundation (KMF)’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament.

“Our events coordinator Carly Gilbert and I, we really manifested this weather. We said it’s going to be beautiful,” said Skye Thomas, the KMF’s executive director.

Dozens of golfers made the trip to the Kanawaki Golf Club for the tournament in support of the KMF, which supports the Kateri Memorial Hospital Center (KMHC) and other medical needs in the community.

“We need all the support we can get, and this golf tournament makes such a difference in fundraising,” said Valerie Diabo, the KMHC’s executive director.

“It really helps us out in the shortfalls and for projects that we didn’t have funding for. With the tournament, we’re able to use this money to keep these projects going.”

She cited the ultrasound system at the hospital as one of those projects that the KMHC could not have accomplished without KMF funding. The hospital has been able to do more than 1,000 ultrasounds since the system was put in place last summer.

She said that the latest project the hospital is looking to fund is a renewal of the nurse call system, the communication system that alerts hospital staff that they need someone to come see them.

The current system is supposed to have a 20-year lifespan, but a little more than 10 years into it, they are already feeling the need to change it.

“This is why this tournament is so important for us, so we could change our equipment soon without waiting for ministry approval or getting money for it from them,” said Diabo.

Money raised by the tournament comes from sponsorship and entry fees, but also Golden Ticket sales, Playground’s Million Dollar Hole-in-One challenge, Dickson Golf taking bets on who would win the tournament, auctions, and half-and-half sales.

K1037 Radio news director Paul Graif won the half-and-half draw of $4,210, which he found out while serving as master of ceremonies and broadcaster for the Million Dollar Hole-in-One challenge on Facebook with Dennis Stacey.

At first, he thought another Paul had won - Rice, not Graif.

“I didn’t even flinch,” he said.

Soon, he was informed that he had, in fact, won. He decided immediately to donate $2,210 back to the foundation from his winnings. “It was the natural thing to do,” said Graif, noting the importance of events like this one for the hospital.

“It always feels good to give.”

Auction prizes this year included golf packages and supplies, a barbecue, a vacation package, as well as art made by Indigenous artists; Kahnawake artist Aurora Leborgne made a yoke, cuffs, and moccasins, while a quilt was donated by Karrie Benedict, a Ratiwennahní:rats Kanien’kéha immersion student, to give thanks for the KMF’s bursary program.

“Those cultural pieces really tie it back into who we are as a community, and just having the opportunity to auction off those items and give recognition to the artists is equally important. It’s a showcase for them,” said Thomas.

Thomas said that continued support through events like the golf tournament means a lot to the foundation.

“It’s amazing to see every year, because the community just continuously supports the KMF. I think it’s important to everybody in the community, because we all use the hospital, or we all have somebody there who we love, or know somebody who’s in that hospital that’s being cared for,” said Thomas.

“I think it really shows how supportive our community is to each other, and you really don’t find that anywhere else. I think it’s something really special.”

Many return year after year to take part, like Jamie McComber, who golfed in the KMF tournament for the fourth time on Monday.

“Each year, it just keeps getting better and better,” said McComber.

“This is a very important cause for our community, the hospital. I’m just happy to contribute by having fun here with everybody. I think it brings everybody together, and it’s just a great time,” he said.

The total raised for this year’s tournament is still being calculated, with hopes that the number will be unveiled next week.

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