Mt. Hood Lions Club Annual Golf Tournament
By: Amber Ford, The Mountain Times
The Mt. Hood Lions Club held their annual golf tournament on Tuesday, August 25th, at The Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, and once again felt the overwhelming support of The Mt. Hood Villages community. The tournament began two years ago under then Mt. Hood Lions Club President, Dave Anderson, as a means of raising funds for their community emergency relief and natural disaster program.
The tournament hosted 100 golfers on 25 teams and raised over $13,000 for their cause. The Club, known for their charitable work throughout The Mt. Hood Villages, hosted this particular event to not only benefit community members in need, but to help grow the organization’s ability to contribute in ways they couldn’t before. According to Mt. Hood Lion and Second Vice President to the club, Nicole Guyer, this tournament is one of their most important of the year. “This is one of the Club's largest fundraisers of the year and is critical to help us support the community when tragedy hits,” she said. After several years of unprecedented weather related disasters such as windstorms, power outages, and potential wildfire dangers, The Mt. Hood Lions Club is eager to use their organization as a relief for neighbors. Guyer explains that The Mt. Hood Lions Club Disaster Relief Program helps the club access necessities for different emergencies, stating “these items are essential during trying times, like an ice storm or a heat wave,” adding “the AC mini splits are a newer addition to the clubhouse and we hope to buy a new generator in the near future.”
Although the tournament’s overall goal is to raise money for their emergency relief fund, members of The Mt. Hood Lions Club and community members who participated, find the event to be a way of connecting with one another. According to Mt. Hood Lion and Immediate Past President, Dave Anderson, the event is far more than just a day on the golf course. “I believe it has also become an event that brings local businesses and residents together in support of each other and our community; an event that everyone has so much fun at as well,” he said. Sharing his sentiments about community fellowship, Guyer also acknowledges the joy this event spreads, saying "we have seen locals, who would not consider themselves golfers, participate in the tournament.” She added “the energy is always buzzing during check-in and screams can be heard across the course when someone makes an amazing shot.”
The Mt. Hood Lions Club’s Golf Tournament committee worked nonstop for the overall success of this event. Members included Dave Anderson (chairperson), Kate Wille, Tim Healy, Alex Steinmetz, and Nicole Guyer, each contributing in their own way, encouraging participation and connecting with local businesses for their charitable contributions. According to both Guyer and Anderson, they were overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity of small businesses between The Mt. Hood Villages and Government Camp. With over 35 sponsors, local businesses and community members donated money, gift baskets, and food for the event. The top donors were organized into tiers: Albatross sponsors, who contributed $1,500, included Porch Light Realty Group, The Rendezvous, The Whistle Stop, and The Brightwood Tavern. The event also highlighted their Eagle sponsors, who gave $1,000, including Philip Carman, The Hoodland Bazaar, and The Welches Smoke Shop.
Although the golf tournament and its resounding success is behind them for the season, The Mt. Hood Lions Club is now gearing up for other important events, including their annual steak and prawns dinner (Saturday, Oct. 17th) which benefits their Reading is Fundamental program and The Community Health and Wellness Fair (Saturday, Oct. 24th, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.). For more information on upcoming events, or to join The Mt. Hood Lions Club, please visit mthoodlions.org.