Hunter Krahn chips onto the green as (from left) Evan Krahn and Adam Koslowski look on during the Celebrity Golf Outing at Horseshoe Bay that raised more than $200,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Door County for the third year in a row. Photo by Larry Mohr.
Kacie Mueller and 135 golfers enjoyed a cool summer day at Horseshoe Bay Golf Club, and the more than $200,000 raised by retired Packers and regional celebrities made Aug. 25 even more enjoyable for her.
The Development Director for the Boys and Girls Club of Door County said 100% of those funds will stay in the county to help fulfill the club’s mission, which is “to inspire young people to explore what’s possible.”
“Thanks to the generosity of all who played, and all of our sponsors and all of our donors,” said Mueller, noting that the funds help the club continue to provide the rich programming and support it gives to 200 Door County children.
The more than $200,000 will go into the club’s general fund, so it can be used as needed to support everything from the free meals and snacks the children receive, to activities, mental health support professionals, field trips, the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math program and club operations.
Larry Brunette, a board member who organizes the event along with David Resch, said this was the third consecutive year that the outing had raised more than $200,000.
“This year we had more sponsors than we had in the past,” he noted, adding that new $10,000 “championship sponsors” and two $15,000 sponsors (Bill Kletzien’s group from Bair, and Sister Bay-based retired attorneys Stackhouse & Stackhouse).
Lee Stackhouse serves as the chairman of the board for the Bay and Lakes Region of the Boys and Girls Club. The region includes Green Bay, Shawano and Door County, but all funds from the Horseshoe Bay outing stay in Door County for local boys and girls.
“There is a big variety of things we do with these kids, and it really helps with their self-esteem and self-awareness and to give them a bright outlook for the future,” Brunette said.
In addition to recreation, emotional support and leadership from a Big Brother or Big Sister, the youngsters also receive homework help, adult mentorship and healthy social interaction.
The Door County Boys and Girls Club has another major fundraiser – the Bourbon, Blues and Barbecue event that took place in June.
“We try to make those dollars last all year,” Brunette said. “We try to stretch every dollar, that’s why we keep doing it.”
Brunette explained some of the reasons he supports the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization.
“I believe the quality of life in Door County is amazing, and if we want to keep it that way, you have to start with the kids,” Brunette said. “When you do great things with the kids, the parents who are living here and working here will stay here, and hopefully some of these kids will want to do that when they get done with school.”
“The club opens doors for these kids and lets them experience things that they otherwise would not be able to experience – it lets them know what’s possible, and really gives them a ‘hand up’ at life,” Brunette said. “The kids who come here, no matter their economic background, we have statistics that show that their GPA goes up when they work with us.”
While the four-person golf teams donated $1,500 per team to golf in the event, many groups donated much more to have specific celebrities and Green Bay Packers retirees play in their groups. Those celebrities included Packers greats Jerry Kramer, Dave Robinson, John Kuhn, Ryan Taylor, Chris Jacke, Paul Coffman, Harry Sydney, Mark Forsberg, Bob Fox and Kevin Cosgrove.
In addition, recently retired Packers President Mark Murphy played to help raise funds for the club. The event organizers honored him by presenting him with a replica of the Washington Redskins uniform he wore when he earned All-Pro honors in 1983.
The organizers also honored former Packers executive and Chairman Emeritus Bob Harlan, along with his wife Madeline.
In addition to the 135 golfers, 40 additional people donated $150 to support the Boys and Girls Club and also to tour various Door County sites while led by DC Personal Drivers.
Crazy Ace at Sister Bay Lions Outing
Up to one dozen people each year report a hole-in-one on the short but iconic, 69-yard eighth hole at Peninsula State Park Golf Course. Many lose money on the deal, due to the preposterous tradition of buying drinks for the group if they card an ace. We have not yet heard how high Paul Crittenden’s bar tab went after he sank his tee shot on the par-3 during the fourth annual Sister Bay Lions golf outing, which attracted 100 golfers on Aug. 24.
However, Crittenden might have made money on the deal, winning the closest-to-the-pin competition on No. 8. He got half of the $770 pot, while the Lions collected the other half.
Complete fundraising totals were not in, as of press time this week, but the Sister Bay Lions’ 18-hole golf outing was a success again this year, said board member Scott Shanahan. The Lions provide financial support for dozens of causes, not the least of which are scholarships for Gibraltar High School graduates.
