For the love of golf. That’s the journey that began the Weyburn Travelodge Annual Golf Tournament. George Siourounis shares how it was his love for golf and community that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars being donated to multiple Weyburn organizations.
“We thought, you know, we have to do something for the community. And me and my brothers, we thought they know what to do. I love golf. And I say, why don't we organize a golf tournament? And then we got together with a couple more people to help me and my brothers. I’m not a good golfer I just love to hit golf balls,” chuckled Siourounis.
That conversation goes back twenty years and with the19th tournament held this past June the grand total of donations going to support multiple community organizations has now reached a grand total of $365,927.43.
This year’s recipients are Envision Counselling and Support Centre Inc., and Inclusion Weyburn.
Assistant Executive Director of Envision Counselling, Laura Melle expressed her gratitude for the large donation.
“Our community donations means so much to us. We are partly government funded and our other funders are very generous, but it doesn't always fill all of the gaps in our budget. So, a generous donation like this $13,740 will definitely work huge in our favor to filling some of those gaps. Even just with restocking our art and play therapy room that we have here in Weyburn for our children's programming and maintaining our office and just being able to restock.”
Inclusion Weyburn also received a large donation from the golf fundraiser, President Jackie Wilson shares what this means to her and the organization.
“I'm speechless. It just helps us so much, and helps take the pressure off, and to know that we've got that funding to hire staff and to get equipment that we need for sensory rooms. It just means so much to us that people care and notice. That just speaks volumes for us.”
Wilson shared that these funds go mostly towards making summer camps available to children.
“We hire one-on-one staff for each individual at our camps, and this year we're pushing about 30. We've added a teen camp this year that we haven't done before, and we've also partnered with the Spark Center with their art camp. So it's just, it's just wonderful. We're filling all of those spots and more.”
Since its inception in 2018, Inclusion Weyburn has grown dramatically, initially helping five children to now helping almost 30 children this summer. Feedback from parents and teachers has been extremely positive.
“Parents report that their children are more content over the summer. They have this routine in their life. They're going and they're out with with their peers and that just makes them happier all summer long. Because they tend lots of times, especially children on the spectrum can be very anxious when there's no routine or structure. So, this just helps them so much. And then teachers report that the children are more easily transitioning back into school in the fall because they've been participating in the camps through the summer.”
Inclusion Weyburn also received $13,740 through the golf fundraiser.
Below is the complete list of all the organizations and donations received throughout the years, all thanks to the Weyburn Travelodge Annual Golf Tournament.
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2002 - $8,210.00 - Medical Imaging Equipment for Weyburn General Hospital
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2003 - $11,060.00 - Fetal Heart Monitor for Weyburn General Hospital
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2004 - $14,426.43 - Electric Beds for Weyburn General Hospital
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2005 - $12,356.00 - Ventilator for Weyburn General Hospital
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2006 - $11,232.00 - Electric Beds for Weyburn General Hospital
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2007 - $22,140.00 - Operating Room Equipment for Weyburn General Hospital
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2008 - $19,702.00 - SCHR EMS Ambulance Fund for replacement of Weyburn Ambulance
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2009 - $28,275.00 - New Weyburn & District Hospital
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2010 - $33,000.00 - New Weyburn & District Hospital
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2011 - $35,418.00 - Emergency Room
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2012 - $33,559.00 - SCHR EMS Ambulance Fund for replacement of Weyburn Ambulance
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2013 - $29,382.00 - Equipment for therapies department
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2014 (no tournament)
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2015 - $13,860 – SCHR EMS Ambulance Fund for replacement of Weyburn Ambulance
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2016 - $12,463 – Centurion Vision System, to ensure removal of cataract
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2017 - $9,434.00 - New Ambulance
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2018 - $10,000.00 - Bursaries for Weyburn EMS
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2019 - $12,450.00 - Continuing Care Assistant Certificate (CCA) and the Practical Nursing Diploma (LPN)
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2020 - (no tournament due to Covid Restrictions)
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2021 - (no tournament due to Covid Restrictions)
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2022 - $21,480.00 - Envision & Inclusion Weyburn
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2023 - $27,480.00 - Envision & Inclusion Weyburn
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