Birdies for Babies raises $29,000 this golf season

Golfers from all over Central Oregon raised over $29,000 (up nearly $7,000 from 2012) in birdie and golf-related contributions for MountainStar Family Relief Nursery through its grassroots Birdies 4 Babies TM program, an annual grassroots golfing fundraiser.

Completing its eighth season, Birdies 4 Babies TM has generated more than $172,000 since its inception in 2005. All proceeds support MountainStar’s child abuse and neglect prevention programs that serve at-risk families with babies and toddlers in Central Oregon.

The Birdies 4 Babies TM season-long program (May through October 2013) welcomed golfers of all abilities, from beginners to professionals, to collect money for birdies (one under PAR) and for other great golf shots and activities during the 2013 golf season. Funds were raised by Awbrey Glenn Golf Club, Bend Golf and Country Club, Broken Top Golf Club, Crosswater Golf Club, Desert Peaks Golf Club, Sunriver Women’s Golf Association, Caldera Links at Sunriver, Tetherow Golf Club, and Widgi Creek Golf Club.

The season concluded with a fantastic afternoon tournament at Caldera Links, where Crosswater Club members and a team of long time Birdies 4 Babies supporters from five different golf clubs organized a tournament that resulted in 60+ Central Oregon golfers who braved the cold to golf, share a pot luck barbeque, and contribute generously through a live auction and raffle. This event alone raised $15,000 for MountainStar’s child abuse prevention work. Special thanks to Val and Brian Britton, Kim and John Rogers, Diana Hall, Andi Northcote, Gloria Lopez-Davis, Kathy Murch, Robin Schueler, and Sally Murphy who organized this effort, along with many individuals, local golf clubs and businesses that contributed auction and raffle items.

Special thanks to our perennial golf-ball fundraiser, Melinda Bailey, of Widgi Creek Golf Club for her continued success at raising funds and awareness for MountainStar by collecting, washing and selling used golf balls throughout the 2013 golf season.

“We are absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity of the local golfing community and golf clubs involved in the program this season,” says Tim Rusk, Executive Director of MountainStar. “Birdies 4 Babies TM brings in critical dollars to support our work with babies and toddlers and also raises public awareness about our critical and cost-effective child abuse prevention work in Central Oregon,” added Rusk.