On July 20th, 2018, Sea & Ski Realty Ltd., Brokerage hosted its first annual Golf Tournament to raise funds for the Markdale Hospital located in Grey County, Ontario. After hearing the provincial government no longer funds the day-to-day expenses required to keep Hospitals operating in Ontario, Karen Cox and Russ Severnuk decided to run a golf tournament to help support their local hospital. Turns out our little hospital must raise $500,000.00 from the community annually to stay current and keep the doors open. The Provincial Government only covers repairs to the building, utilities, and staffing costs. All internal equipment from admin supplies to medical supplies and surgical kits to large diagnostic equipment must be paid for from fundraising efforts within the community.
Having produced many consumer trade shows in the past, Karen and Russ quickly realized running a golf tournament was not much different than producing a Home & Garden Show. You need marketing, sponsors, prize donations, and people to participate. After meeting with the Hospital Fund Raising Committee and getting the Hospital Foundation Board of Directors on board, Karen and Russ quickly brought the Highland Glen Golf Course in with a 5-year commitment and a large annual donation which kickstarted the marketing. Adding other local sponsors was easy once they knew where the money was heading. Other local companies sponsored holes and donated prizes. Within 3 months of starting, the field was filling up, sponsors were getting great exposure and everyone involved was pretty excited. “The Community is coming together to support this initiative and it’s an honour to be a part of such an important local issue.” Said Karen Cox, Broker of Record and OREA President-Elect for 2018.
The Morning of July 20 broke under full sun with not a cloud in the sky. Registration tables were set up, prizes were being put on display and people began to arrive as scheduled. Golf carts were readied and the field was on their way out to play 18 holes of golf at 11 am sharp. Participants were provided lunch and plenty of water with temperatures running in the low 30s. It was a wonderful day all around. By 4 pm, they were rolling back to the clubhouse with some having won Longest Drives and Closest to the Hole. We had putting and chipping contests that everyone loved.
Sea & Ski Realty Ltd. was proud to present a cheque of over $23,000 to the Centre Grey Hospital with the funds that were generated from the tournament. Karen Cox, the owner and Broker of Record of Sea and Ski said the day exceeded her expectations and is ecstatic Sea and Ski can support our local hospital, “Our goal was to raise $15,000 and we raised $23,008.08,” she says. “If we want a community hospital we all need to support it and we figured we could do our part by running the golf tournament.”
2018 Event Photos
