VJH Foundation Charity Classic Nets $1,000,000 in 6 Years

Despite the rain and wind that forced the calling of the 6th Annual Charity Classic Golf Tournament sponsored by TELUS May 24 at Predator Ridge Resort, 132 golfers and the event sponsors made this year an overwhelming success.

$242,100.00 net was raised for the completion of the top two floors at Vernon Jubilee Hospital.

Back in 2010 it was then Chairperson, Val Harrison’s dream to hold a high end golf tournament at Predator Ridge which involved the community in raising funds to purchase medical equipment for Vernon Jubilee Hospital. The first 5 years raised $758,000 net. Adding the 2015 total, the VJHF Charity Classic has reached $1,000,100 net; quite an amazing accomplishment for any golf tournament!A component of the event was a live auction. The highlight was the auctioning of a golf trip-of-a-lifetime to Bandon Dunes, Oregon in the Kal Tire Corporate Jet. This item alone raised $35,000. Besides the auction, funds came from many sources. Eight year-old golfer Ryan Vest who can drive a golf ball farther than many adults, raised $240 by driving golf balls for the tournament golfers.

"It is important for me to thank and recognize the generosity of Predator Ridge, its members and its residents who have financially supported this golf tournament from the beginning," said Sue Beaudry, VJHF Director of Development."Significant donations came from some Predator members who helped put us over the top to our six year total of $1,000,100 net. This is an important event for the Hospital and I wish to thank our major sponsors who helped make it happen: TELUS, Predator Ridge, Silver Star Mountain, TOLKO, Wayside Co, Black & McDonald, Sparkling Hill Resort, RBCDS, KAL TIRE, Nixon Wenger, Stutters DKI, Westwood, Okanagan Spring, Vernon Home Building Centre, Capri Insurance, Misconduct Wine Co. and all of our hole sponsors."

More than $10,000 worth of prizes were awarded at the tournament. Team VantageOne were the low gross winners of the Corporate Challenge. This year the award was renamed in Memory of Herb Paterson, one of the original founders of Predator Ridge who passed away in February.  Overall organizing committee Chair, Cliff Oughtred, was delighted with the end results. Along with VJH Foundation VP Richard Finn, he thanked the hard working volunteers and invited everyone back for a sunnier 2016 Charity Classic event.