Doing good through golf

But for a small local racing club of little renown, getting funding and attention from outside sources can prove difficult.

Enter The Pines Golf Club of Marana, which since last August has been helping small charitable organizations via its FUNdraising Friday program.

"We're in our own little bubble, so this is a nice way to introduce us," said Debbie Spanyard, whose Team Ajo BMX group of 15 riders raised about $1,500 at the latest FUNdraising Friday, held last Friday at the 18-hole public golf course just west of Interstate 10 and north of Cortaro Road.

The four-person shotgun scramble tournament drew about 50 participants. Enticements include raffles, silent auctions, goodie bags of products donated by sponsors and local merchants, a post-tournament buffet lunch and prizes for closest to the pin and longest drive on select holes.

FUNdraising Friday has taken advantage of Tucsonans' love of the links to bring together donors and beneficiaries who otherwise would never have connected. The event was the brainchild of Paula Voorhees, marketing director for The Pines, and David Graham, owner of course operator Marana Golf Management.

"It was a fantastic experience. It was extremely beneficial for us," said Faye Gandolfi, executive director of Desert Dove Farm, an equine-therapy program that helps at-risk kids with life skills. "We've tried to do things (like this) in the past."

Gandolfi said her organization was able to raise $1,350 through its participation in The Pines' February FUNdraising Friday, and it hopes to get involved in future outings.

The Haven, a residential treatment center for women with substance-abuse disorders, gained about $2,000 from its involvement in a FUNdraising Friday last November. But while the money was helpful, it was the chance to spread The Haven's name and mission that proved the most beneficial part of the event.

"The exposure is very important," The Haven communications director Veronica Durie said. "It all adds up. Everything is about exposure for us. We've been here for 36 years, but until recently we weren't very well-known."

Helping with that exposure goal, event sponsor KVOI 690-AM broadcasts live from The Pines on the mornings of FUNdraising Fridays and gives each nonprofit group involved a chance to tout its cause on the air.

Because groups such as Ajo BMX and Old Pueblo Archaeology, the other beneficiary from last week, are not the typical golf-outing-type charities, The Pines does most of the legwork to get golfers out to the course.

"Our biggest problem is getting the golfers," Voorhees said. "Some of our nonprofit (groups) are more active in gathering them than others. We give them the goal of bringing in 20 golfers."

The Pines also sends out mass e-mails to a database of more than 3,000 local duffers, many of whom will jump on any excuse to go out and play.

"We're doing it in support of the charities," said Kathie Coil, a member of the Executive Women's Golf Association. "I think it's a great idea, because who else is doing this? These are charities that are little-known, and there as so many other charities that get all the glory and funding."

The Pines gives at least 50 percent of the price for the round of golf (determined by the season of play) to the participating charities, Voorhees said, along with all proceeds from raffles, auctions and mulligan sales. And some sponsors kick in extra donations — Wells Fargo adds $1,000 to the total payout each time.

Voorhees said she hopes to hold a FUNdraising Friday every three months, with the next event scheduled for Aug. 26. While at first she had to solicit nonprofits to sign on, now she has a list of several local charities wanting to participate.

"They're just so grateful, it's a pleasure to work with them," Voorhees said.