Come play golf to support Kerby Centre

Our 2nd Annual Kerby Centre Charity Classic Golf Tournament is fast approaching and we’re really thrilled with all aspects of its planning.

When we locked down back in 2020, our team started to grapple with the financial challenges that came with closing the centre. We felt we needed to find ways that businesses in corporate Calgary could support the programs and supports we were providing for seniors.

Even though Kerby Centre had provided services for seniors for almost 50 years we had a surprisingly low level of financial support from businesses in Alberta.

For example, we sell advertising in this paper, and the profits generated by the Kerby News go to support our charitable activities, but in the last eight years, we had only brought on one new advertiser!

Our team knew quite a few non-profits use fundraising events as a platform to introduce the charitable work they do with local companies — companies who may end up sponsoring the event.

We were in the middle of COVID-19, however, so something like a Gala didn’t seem like a prescient idea.

A golf tournament though? That was the solution. That was an event that we could hold completely outdoors if COVID-19 wasn’t cooperating.

Our Board of Directors was skeptical, however. About a decade ago Kerby had tried a few years to run a golf tournament, but we finally gave up after losing $15,000 on a tournament in 2012.

Despite hesitations, we knew we were in an environment where trying new things to increase our financial sustainability was critical.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we could have a maximum of 100 golfers at the event, but even with that restriction, we were able to put on a great event that raised $84,263.

We’re planning on 144 golfers this year, so we’ll be raising even more funds which can be used to support our programs and services for seniors. Our extremely popular Ball Drop raffle is back as well, so you have another chance to win cash and a WestJet flight package.

You don’t even have to be at the event itself to win a prize or to support our programs — you can go right to our website a buy some golf balls in the draw and get your opportunity to win!

If you had a lot of fun last year, you’re going to love everything our team has planned for our event here at the end of summer.

If your company would like to help us support seniors in Alberta, drop DanielleM@kerbycentre.com an e-mail — she would love to sell you a team or sponsorship.