The 27th annual Kids Golf Classic, which benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg, was held Monday at the Parkersburg Country Club. The event generated a record $297,000. All funds raised directly benefit the 1,000 children throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley that the Boys and Girls Club serves each year. Present for the check presentation are, front row from left: Ryan Kent (Bowles Rice); Adam Reynolds (Chapman Printing Company); Three Ross (The Ross Foundation); Lynn Reins (CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg) Mary Anne Ketelsen (Mary M. Welch Advised Fund – in memory of Mickey Welch / Mary Anne and Doug Ketelsen); Richard Adams (Executive Chairman of United) and Fred Earley (Highmark of West Virginia). Back Row: John Fanta (Henry Logan Children’s Home Foundation); Tyler Astorg (Astorg & Matheny, Inc.); Tim Matheny (Astorg & Matheny, Inc.); John Padden (Reagle and Padden); Nick Squires (Tri-State); Dan Van Dyke (The PM Company); Charlie Taylor (United Construction Company, Inc. and Murray Sheet Metal); Robert Vanni (Family Rug) and Chad Mildren (Kids Classic Golf Tournament Chairman and Director of Consumer Banking, United Bank). (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
Joe Campbell high-fived his teammates after teeing off the green for a birdie on the ninth hole at Parkersburg Country Club during the 27th annual Kids Golf Classic on Monday. The team of Campbell, Bob Boone, Dale Knight and Bob Stephens finished at 7-under par 66 in the best-ball format and placed in a tie for second in Vol C. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
The 27th annual Kids Golf Classic, which benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg, was held Monday at the Parkersburg Country Club. The event generated a record $297,000. All funds raised directly benefit the 1,000 children throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley that the Boys and Girls Club serves each year. Present for the check presentation are, front row from left: Ryan Kent (Bowles Rice); Adam Reynolds (Chapman Printing Company); Three Ross (The Ross Foundation); Lynn Reins (CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg) Mary Anne Ketelsen (Mary M. Welch Advised Fund – in memory of Mickey Welch / Mary Anne and Doug Ketelsen); Richard Adams (Executive Chairman of United) and Fred Earley (Highmark of West Virginia). Back Row: John Fanta (Henry Logan Children’s Home Foundation); Tyler Astorg (Astorg & Matheny, Inc.); Tim Matheny (Astorg & Matheny, Inc.); John Padden (Reagle and Padden); Nick Squires (Tri-State); Dan Van Dyke (The PM Company); Charlie Taylor (United Construction Company, Inc. and Murray Sheet Metal); Robert Vanni (Family Rug) and Chad Mildren (Kids Classic Golf Tournament Chairman and Director of Consumer Banking, United Bank). (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
VIENNA — As part of being on the ground floor for the creation of the Kids Golf Classic 27 years ago, Richard Adams remembers the event raising $40,000 to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg that first year.
And in 2023, the money raised from Year 1 is the same dollar figure by which the event topped the total dollar figure raised in 2022. Monday at the Parkersburg Country Club, the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg and its Executive Director Lynn Reins received a check for a record $297,000, an increase of $40,000 from a year ago.
Since its inception, the Kids Golf Classic has generated more than $4 million in fundraising.
“It’s all about the kids” said Adams, who is the executive chairman of United Bankshares, Inc. “In terms of fundraising, it all comes down to the relationships we have with our customers and people in the community who are committed to the Boys & Girls Club. We are so honored to be able to continue to make a big difference.
“There is no doubt that the Boys & Girls Club is doing a great job, and every year they raise the bar. I think that has to do with people giving more money.”
Joe Campbell high-fived his teammates after teeing off the green for a birdie on the ninth hole at Parkersburg Country Club during the 27th annual Kids Golf Classic on Monday. The team of Campbell, Bob Boone, Dale Knight and Bob Stephens finished at 7-under par 66 in the best-ball format and placed in a tie for second in Vol C. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
The funds, which are unrestricted, allow the organization to improve both the quality and quantity of the programs and services it offers.
According to Reins, the club served more children in April and May of this year than in April and May of 2019, surpassing the facility’s pre-pandemic numbers.
“Without Chad, Richard and the team, I don’t know if there would be a club in Parkersburg.” said Reins, who has been affiliated with the Parkersburg location for 2 1/2 years. “That’s more than a third of our operating budget for the year. I’ve been in nonprofits for almost 13 years and I’ve never seen an event put on by a local business where the nonprofit I didn’t have to lift a finger to make it happen.
“In general we are working very hard to earn every penny we receive. Having the support of Richard, Chad and the team is amazing. We are lucky to have an event like the Kids Golf Classic. All the other clubs I speak to are very envious.”
The Boys & Girls Club is a constant in the lives of hundreds of area youth and provides access to a safe facility with a positive environment and caring adult professionals who foster the club’s three priority outcomes: academic success, character building and healthy lifestyle choices. .
“There’s this old cliché we say at the Boys & Girls Club, ‘kids grow with their feet,’ meaning if they walk in the door, we’re doing something right.” Reins said. “As we see our numbers go up, we see them having fun. We see them coming more regularly.
“We do a good job and put it out there for people to see so they can see a return on their investment. So if they give to the Kids Golf Classic, they’re giving to the future of Parkersburg or the future of Wood County because we’re going to invest in those children and by investing in our children they will be the future mayors. the future doctors, whatever. By investing in them, they can see that it has a profitable return.”
Reins noted that 270 children are enrolled in summer programs at the club. Six additional part-time members have recently been hired to lead and implement new fun and enriching summer initiatives and activities.
“We have a phenomenal new unit manager in Sierra Hoy – she started in December and has brought this fresh, whole new light.” Reins said. “We know when all the field trips are. We go around the world every week as a new country for them to visit. There’s cooking, there’s performing arts, there’s gardening. There’s everything any kid would want to do. There’s something for everyone and Sierra has been instrumental in getting it started.”
Annually, the tournament, which is fully funded by United Bank, draws strong support from the golfing and business community alike, many of whom have participated since the tournament’s inception. Due to United’s funding, 100% of funds raised through entry fees, sponsorships and donations directly benefit the local organization. The tournament’s annual revenue represents more than a third of the nonprofit’s operating budget.
A total of 120 golfers participated in the 2023 Kids Golf Classic, which was sponsored by 122 local businesses and community members. Titanium level sponsors, giving $25,000 or more, include: Mary Riccobene and Mary M. Welch Advised Fund of the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, in memory of Mickey Welch. Platinum level sponsors, giving $10,000 or more, include: Astorg & Matheny, Inc.; CAS cable; Henry Logan Children’s Home Foundation; Mary Anne and Doug Ketelsen; Reagle and Padden Insurance; The Ross Foundation; United Bank; United Construction Company, Inc. and Murray Sheet Metal. Gold level sponsors, giving $5,000 or more, include: Bill Leachman; Bowles rice; Chapman Printing Company; Family rug; FIS; Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield; Richard Adams; The PM company; Three-state roofs and veneer; Worldpay and Visa. Silver level sponsors, giving $1,000 or more, include: 49 local businesses and community members. Several other businesses and individuals also contributed to today’s event, offering personal donations and acting as hole sponsors, helping to make the 2023 fund the most successful year yet.
“Each year, we are inspired by the extraordinary support our community provides for the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg and the local children it serves through the Kids Golf Classic.” said Chad Mildren, who is the tournament chairman and executive vice president, director of consumer banking at United Bank. “After 27 years of the tournament, to have another record year and surpass the $4 million mark for funds raised for the Club, I am truly amazed. The Club plays an integral role in the community, shaping the lives of our local youth and contributing to their future success.
“United is proud to present this fundraising platform, continuing to connect the organization with members of our business community and generating much-needed funds so the Club team can focus on their important mission. We would like to thank the individuals and businesses who supported the Kids Golf Classic today, Lynn and the staff at the Boys & Girls Club for all they do to empower the youth in our community as well as the children and families at the Club who make the decision every day to spend their time in a positive environment.”
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com
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