Weir a Miracle for Children’s Hospital!
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Golf Drive for Kids raises $625,000!
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA – With clear skies and high of 24 degrees, it was the perfect golf day at St. Charles Country Club where 219 golfers and over 250 spectators came out to golf with or be on the same course as Mike Weir for the Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids in support of the Children’s Hospital Foundation.
The event, presented by W.A. ‘Laddie’ Hutchison’s Canadian Tire Regent location, raised a staggering $625,000 for the Foundation. The funds were raised through sponsorships, ticket sales and live and silent auctions.
“It was a great two days in Winnipeg,” said Mike Weir. “The course was great and the people were so friendly. I’m proud to have been able to help the Children’s Hospital Foundation raise such a huge number for the hospital.”
The event concluded with a Gala dinner at the Fort Garry Hotel Spa & Conference Centre where approximately 500 notable Winnipegers enjoyed dinner and presentations. Mayor Sam Katz was in attendance to present Weir with the Key to the City and let him know that he is welcome back to Winnipeg any time.
The event also included a Junior Pro Am tournament sponsored by Canada Safeway where 55 kids aged 8 – 17 years from across the province were placed on teams and paired with Manitoba professional golfers to play nine holes. Each team also got the chance to have their photos taken with Weir.
The “big kids” played 18 holes in the adult tournament where they competed in various contests to win prizes including a hole-in-one, marshmallow drive and closest to the pin.
At 2 p.m., Weir performed a clinic for a crowd of approximately 500 spectators who were fixated on his every word and movement as he explained how he performs certain shots and gets ready to play. He stayed after to sign every autograph that came his way.
“Everyone had such a great time and we are so amazed by the huge success of the Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids,” said event co-chairs Curtis Gray and Mark Gray. “We are so proud of our city for the huge outpouring of support for the Children’s Hospital Foundation. This will really go a long way to support child health care and child health research. We thank Mike Weir, all of our generous sponsors, the over 100 volunteers and our organizing committee for all of their contributions, time and effort to ensuring this event happened. “
About the Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids
The Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids has a single mission - to be golf's premiere fund raising initiative to support children's health care by ensuring that all children receive the very best care, that children benefit from world class research and that care facilities are provided with funding for educational and support programs.
In 2007, The Mike Weir Foundation partnered with Children’s Miracle Network and the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada to create the Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids in a concerted national effort to raise $10 million for children's health care. With the Winnipeg event, it has now raised over $2.5 million towards its goal to support children’s wellness initiatives, including mental health initiatives across Canada.
About The Mike Weir Foundation
March 1, 2009 marked the 5th anniversary of the creation of The Mike Weir Foundation, dedicated to advancing the physical, emotional and educational welfare of children in Canada. Since inception and through the support of generous sponsors and donors, the Foundation is proud to report that over $5 million has been raised for children's wellness with over $3 million of support being provided for children's health care and related causes. Recently, $250,000 was committed towards children's mental health initiatives across Canada.
About the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba Inc.
Since 1971, the Children’s Hospital Foundation has been raising funds for the specialized needs of child health care in Manitoba. Each year the Foundation commits over $5 million towards equipment and programs at the Children’s Hospital of Winnipeg and life-saving pediatric research at the Manitoba Institute of Child Health. The Foundation’s goal is to provide the 130,000 kids that are treated each year at Children’s Hospital with the very best medical care possible…because children need us!
About Children’s Miracle Network
Children’s Miracle Network is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals, 14 of which are in Canada. Compassionate organizations, media partners and countless individuals unite with Children’s Miracle Network hospitals to help sick and injured kids in local communities. Donations to Children’s Miracle Network create miracles by funding medical care, research and education that saves and improves the lives of more than 2.6 million Canadian children each year.
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For additional information, please contact:
Andrea Di Ubaldo
Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba Inc.
W (204) 787.4056, C (204) 797.2716
adiubaldo@hsc.mb.ca