Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Plains is teeing up for a busy summer of fundraising, with two major events aimed at supporting its youth mentoring programs.
The organization, which relies on fundraising, grants and donations for approximately 80 per cent of its annual budget, is bringing back its Ultimate 90-Hole Golf Marathon on June 19 at the Portage Golf Club. Executive Director Dawn Froese notes that the event's popularity has led to its return.
“We were only going to do it as a one-time thing,” said Executive Director Dawn Froese. “But some people said, ‘Couldn’t we do it again?’ So we said, ‘Okay, we’ll try it another year,’ knowing that it might have a short shelf life, and that’s fine.”
Participants can take on the full 90 holes solo, split the challenge with a partner, or form a team of five to each play 18 holes. Froese said the event is designed to be flexible and inclusive, with both paper pledge sheets and an online fundraising platform available.
“We also have an online portion where you can set up this quick page. You get a link, you e-mail all your friends and business people and say, ‘Hey, you want to sponsor me for this? Just click on the link and you can you can donate to this great cause.’ I personally like doing that because I hate looking people in the eye and saying, ‘Hey, would you support me?’ But an email is a really quick way to do that. All the money goes to support mentoring in our region, which is great as well. So it's really a win-win.”
The marathon is scheduled near the summer solstice to maximize daylight, with golfers expected to play from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Green fees and carts are included for those without a Portage Golf Club membership, with lunch and supper also being provided.
Later in the summer, the organization will host its popular Big Duck Race, now set for Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. at Splash Island. Tickets are already on sale, but instead of during Canada Day festivities on July 1, the race has been moved to late August to allow for more ticket sales at local fairs and festivals.
Tickets are available at Mr. Mikes, the Portage Regional Library, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters office, with prices set at $5 for one or $10 for three. Pop-up sales will also take place at various locations around town, with updates posted on PortageOnline and the Pharmasave Portage community events calendar.
The race offers cash prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250 for the top three ducks. Froese said the event is always full of surprises.
“Over the years, we’ve had a few little mishaps, some ducks have broken out early, I’ve fallen into the deep end by accident. You never know what may happen.”
Froese emphasized that these events are more than just fundraisers; they’re opportunities to create lasting memories for local youth. She recalled a recent outing to a Sea Bears basketball game that left a lasting impression on the children involved.
“For some, this was their first experience. The boys in my vehicle had fun on the way in and on the way back. And at the stadium, they were just mesmerized by the game; it was great.”
For more information or to get involved, visit the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Plains social media.