It started back in 2002 with a bunch of professional hockey players from around Central Alberta wanting to give back to their community.
The annual Young Guns Golf Tournament raked in $47,000 this year which was then shared with 15 different groups in the region last month.
“We were so blessed because we didn’t expect that,” said Debbie Brigley, chairperson of the 2016 tournament. “We try to give back to the charities, the non-profit organizations that just run on donations and we try to go from seniors to children to make sure everyone gets a piece of the pie.”
Over the years the tournament has donated to organizations like the Red Deer and District Food Bank, the Red Deer Hospice Society, Alzheimers Society, Special Olympics and Kidsport. In a normal year they might pull in close to $80,000 but the economy being what it is right now, the total dropped but every little bit counts and organizers were grateful to raise what they did.
Hockey players like the Vandermeer brothers, Ryan and Jared Smyth , Brandon Sutter, Brad Leeb, the Russel brothers and many more have been on hand to support the cause. It’s a side of pro hockey players many people don’t see enough of according to Brigley whise own son Travis had an NHL career and has teed it up in this event.
“There’s so much they do behind the scenes for charities but this one they come back to their communities and everybody knows them.”
It’s a pretty good return on investment for the community which helped them along their hockey career and now these players are eager to give back.
“I think they feel good about it too in the long run,” said Brigley. “They do so much of it that I think it’s part of being a professional athlete and they just know that’s part of it.”
This year another varied list of charities were helped out in some way through the tournament at Alberta Springs Golf Resort.
Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre – $2000
Sylvan Lake Minor Hockey – $5000
Red Deer Minor Hockey – $7000
KidSport Red Deer – $2000
Special Olympics Calgary – $3000
KidSport Sylvan Lake– $2000
Red Deer Food Bank – $3000
Red Deer Regional Hospital Scholarship – $2500
Dreams Take Flight – $2500
The Lending Cupboard – $5000
Sylvan Lake Food Bank – $3000
Red Deer Hospice Society – $2000
Ecole Fox Run School Lunch Program Sylvan Lake– $2500
The Mustard Seed Red Deer – $2500
Innisfail Minor Hockey (Girls & Boys Discover Hockey Camp) – $1522
The group works with organizations mostly in the Central Alberta region with occasional forays into Edmonton or Calgary but mainly the money raised sticks close to home.
“If there is a need, we always save some money just in case there’s a tragedy in our community,” said Brigley.
The process to get some help is quite simple. There isn’t an official form to fill out. You simply write the Young Guns committee a letter, explain your need and they work to fit you in.
The planning for next year’s Young Guns Golf tournament has already started and here’s hoping the economy picks up so more can be doled out to needy non-profits.
