The MHPSD Education Foundation uses its funds to support teachers and students and even funds facility enhancements like the new playground at Dr. Ken Sauer School.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
ktaniguchi@medicinehatnews.com@@kellentaniguchi
For the second straight year the Medicine Hat Public School Division Education Foundation has cancelled its 24th annual golf tournament at Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club.
The tournament is usually held in the first week of June, but the foundation moved the tee-off date to June 25 in hopes of being able to have the tournament. However, the latest round of COVID-19 restrictions in Alberta forced the foundation’s hand.
“We had put a lot of things in motion and then with these last restrictions where you have to be from your own household to golf and no social gatherings, which is a large part of the event itself, we felt we had to cancel,” said Natalie Sauer, tournament chair.
The annual tournament usually draws in more than 140 golfers with the goal of raising funds for the Education Foundation, which helps purchase extra needs and facilities needed at schools across the division. Sauer adds the golf tournament is the biggest fundraiser for the foundation each year.
“This is the major fundraiser we do every year and every year we make about $25,000 to $30,000 from this event that we count on in order to then distribute out to the classes and the schools,” she said. “By not having it two years in a row, it’s definitely hit the amount of things we’re able to do for sure.”
Sauer says the foundation can’t help as many of the requests that are coming in because they aren’t able to fundraise the money they usually do. She says it’s important to be able to support teachers and students, especially during the pandemic and during the time of online learning.
The foundation can purchase online programs to help teachers have more tools to use and have a better understanding on what to do in a virtual classroom. Sauer says they have also used funds to upgrade facilities such as the new playground at Ken Sauer School.
The golf tournament was cancelled last year as well, but this year the foundation is reaching out and asking for support.
“We are asking and reaching out to our sponsors that have really stuck by us over the years and asking them to still consider making a donation,” said Sauer. “For golfers who would pay the $100 to play in the tournament that they would consider still making that donation, so we don’t go without. We’re finding some are doing that, which we’re really thankful for.”
Sauer says the foundation always wants to support the community and when the latest restrictions came into place it wanted to do its part to keep the community healthy and safe by not bringing everyone together for the tournament.
Anyone wanting to make a donation to the MHPSD Education Foundation can do so by calling the school division directly, or online at https://mhpsd.ca/e_d_u_c_a_t_i_o_n_f_o_u_n_d_a_t_i_o_n or by emailing dar.smuk@sd76.ab.ca.
