The 13th annual Catholic Charities-Bishop McDonald dinner and Golf Classic raised more than $35,000 Sept. 23-24 for social services programs in Arkansas.
Benefiting from the golf tournament are Catholic Adoption Services, Catholic Immigration Services, the Hurricane Recovery Office, Emergency Assistance, Prison Ministry and the Westside Free Medical Clinic.
Sunday night’s kick-off party included live and silent auctions, with items ranging from paintings to puppies. A beef dinner was served courtesy of Western Sizzlin’ and music was provided by The Kat Hood Trio. The evening included a 50/50 raffle and several door prizes. KTHV weatherman Ed Buckner served as master of ceremonies and Bill Hartnedy led the live auction. University of Arkansas at Little Rock basketball coach Steve Shields and his wife Dee shared how Catholic Charities of Arkansas has touched their family.
Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert, diocesan administrator, presented volunteer tournament chairwoman Roz Rector with a prayer membership from the monks of Subiaco Abbey for her years of service to Catholic Charities.
The following day, 48 teams took to the greens in a four-man scramble and didn’t let the afternoon rain slow them down. The winners of the tournament were Christopher Couch, Cade Liebhaber, Ron Mangold and David Steimel, with a score of 55. Prizes were given to players in four flight categories, to skill-game winners and to 50/50 raffle winners.
St. Andrew, the patron of the diocese and golfers, was featured throughout the events, and images of the patron saints of sponsoring businesses graced the tee boxes.
Alice Dennis will take over as chairwoman of the tournament next year.
“The Bishop McDonald Golf Classic is the main fundraiser of the year for Catholic Charities, and this event has been a wonderful way to raise awareness of all the programs provided by Catholic Charities of Arkansas throughout the state,” Dennis said. “The classic just keeps getting bigger and better, and we now have many participants and sponsors who look forward to it every year as their way to support the mission of Catholic Charities.”
48 teams raise money for Catholic Charities’ 13th golf tournament
