Batesville, Ark--Forty-two teams teed off for a good time and a good cause at the 17th Annual White River Health System Foundation (WRHSF) Golf Classic Saturday, June 18th. The event raised more than $148,000 for the Ground Floor Renovation and Patient Tower Expansion Project currently taking place at White River Health System.
The tournament winner was the team from Bad Boy Mowers, which included Justin Thornton, Chris Smith, Kermit Blevins, and Russ Price. The event included several contests with the following winners; Putting Contest, Jim Wann; Ladies' Longest Drive Cecilia Vinson; Men's Longest Drive Keith Harris; Straightest Drive, Cecilia Vinson; Closest to the Pin, Bob Eichorn, Chris Laman, Tommy Tucker, and Larry Sims. The Skins game winners were Governor Mike Beebe, Kyle Osborne, Joey Woods, and Bobby Reynolds.
For the eighth consecutive year, the event was held at The Course at Eagle Mountain. Batesville's premier 18-hole golf course, featuring Empire Zoyia Fairways, Bent Grass Greens, and water hazards, offers a challenging, but fun, game of golf.
Event sponsors AFLAC – Randy Reichardt Insurance Agency, Consumer Collection Management, Inc., Cromwell Architects Engineers, The Course at Eagle Mountain, Liberty Bank, Medtronic, Nabholz Construction Corporation, and Wade's Heating, Air Conditioning and Electrical, joined with more than 100 sponsors to support this year's Golf Classic.
"The generosity of our donors and corporate sponsors allows the Foundation to support expanding and improving the healthcare services provided by White River Health System," said WRHS Foundation President Dick Bernard.
More than 60 Volunteers gave more than 400 hours of their time in preparing and executing the event.
"I appreciate the willingness, enthusiasm, and hard work of the volunteers. Their outstanding attitude played a vital role in the success of the tournament," said Gary Bebow, WRHS Administrator/CEO.
Established in 1992, the WRHS Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to meet the present and future needs of White River Health System. The Golf Classic has raised $1.5 million for vital programs and projects such as nursing scholarships, community health programs, the WRMC Cancer Care Center, and the Josephine Raye Rogers Center for Women and Imaging.
WRMC's Ground Floor Renovation and Patient Tower Expansion Project consists of the construction of a new patient tower that will house 60 private patient rooms and the expansion and renovation of several departments for more efficient and accessible services to patients and employees. The project, which has an estimated cost of $35 M, and currently under construction, will take 18-24 months to complete. The money raised by the Golf Classic is part of the Capital Campaign lead by the WRHS Foundation to secure necessary funding for the project. $4.25M has been raised to date as a result of the Capital Campaign which includes the Employee Campaign, the Golf Classic, and applications for private, public, and federal grants.
For more information about the White River Health System Foundation and opportunities for giving, please call Sarah Morgan, Foundation Coordinator at 870-262-1834 or via email at smorgan@wrmc.com.
Posted: July, 05 2011