Team Micks is teaming up with Mariposa House Hospice to host a charity golf tournament for the care facility this summer.
The tournament, which takes place on July 20 at Hawk Ridge Golf Club, is looking for 120 golfers to participate.
Annalise Stenekes, the executive director of Mariposa House Hospice, says the fundraiser is “huge” for the registered charity that provides services to residents and their families at no cost.
“Mariposa House relies on community fundraising to meet our operating costs,” she explained. “It means everything to us that these volunteers are putting this tournament on.”
Core funding received from the provincial government covers around 40 percent of the operating costs at Mariposa House Hospice.
“Since the pandemic happened, costs have skyrocketed everywhere,” Stenekes said. “Our operating costs are more than what was originally imagined.”
Mariposa House Hospice needs to raise close to $1 million each year to keep the doors open, she explained.
“It’s kind of like running five households,” Stenekes explained. “We have five residents and five families here at a time. It’s all the costs you would anticipate for a single-family times five, plus the fact that we are a not-for-profit charitable organization and have the administrative costs as well.”
Roy Micks and Mackenzie Micks are the title sponsors of the event and are helping to organize it.
“I think it’s a great cause,” Roy Micks said. “My sisters have all been involved with hospice, and supporting it is the right thing to do."
BMO investment advisor and financial planner, Karen O’Coin, is a major sponsor of the event.
“For me, I believe hospice is necessary for every community,” she said. “I’m grateful that we have it here in Orillia."
The tournament costs $150 which includes golf, a power cart, breakfast, and lunch. Tee time is 9 a.m.
Past chair, and committee member of the golf tournament, Robin Sanders, says last year the virtual edition of the event raised around $14,000.
“Obviously we would like to do better than that,” she said.
“We will always shoot for the stars,” Roy Micks added.
Sanders says the atmosphere at the tournament is more exciting than a normal day of golfing.
“It’s really exciting,” she said. “There are a whole bunch of people, and everybody knows that they are there for the same common goal, to raise money for something that is really important for our community.”
Once registration opens for the event in the coming days, you can sign up to participate here.
