Bruce Merrell, St. Mary’s Hospital President; Howard Jones, Committee; Scott Niermann, St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation Director; Tom Simpson, Insurance Partnership Agency; Phil Gustafson, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan President & CEO; Rev. Ron Johnson, St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation Board Chair; Maryann Langenfeld, Committee Chair; Kirk Rueter, Honorary Chairman/Committee; Mike Garwood, Dimond Bros. Insurance Agency, Inc.
Following a successful first year the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament is set for this fall with a goal of continuing to aid the Centralia hospital in its mission to provide quality, cost-effective care to all of those in the region.
The Insurance Partnership Agency, a Division of Dimond Bros. Insurance Agency, in partnership with West Bend Insurance Company, has signed on as the major sponsor of this year’s tournament, to be held Friday, Sept. 14, at Greenview Golf Course in Centralia, with a generous donation of $5,000. Former Major League Baseball pitcher Kirk Rueter will again serve as honorary chairman of the tournament. Rueter, a native of Hoyleton, played for the Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants as a starting pitcher for 12 seasons before retiring in 2005.
“We thank our friends at Insurance Partnership for again stepping up and serving as major sponsor for our second annual golf tournament,” said Scott Niermann, Foundation Director at St. Mary’s Hospital. “Their leadership in generosity continues to amaze us. We really had a good first outing in 2011 and are very glad to have Kirk Rueter back and involved again this year. Many know his name as that of a professional baseball player, but those in his home region undoubtedly are aware of his strong spirit of charity. We appreciate his effort to help the hospital and its patients.”
Registration and lunch will be held from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, with a shotgun start to the scramble starting the event at 1 p.m. A dinner and awards ceremony will be held following play. Should rain force postponement of the scramble, it will be held the following day, Saturday, Sept. 15.
A few sponsorships remain for the Second Annual St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament. Eagle Level sponsors ($2,500) will receive lunch, refreshments, dinner and souvenir gifts for a team of four, as well as cart and hole sponsorships, listing in the program and on the banner, four extra dinner tickets and four extra souvenir gifts.
Birdie Level sponsorship ($1,500) includes lunch, refreshments, dinner and souvenir gifts for a team of four, as well as cart and hole sponsorships, listing in the program and on the banner and four extra dinner tickets. Team sponsors ($1,000) will receive lunch, refreshments, dinner, cart and hole sponsorships and listing in the program.
Tee sponsorships ($200) will include custom golf ball-shaped signage with a logo at one of the holes on the course. Hole sponsorship ($100) includes signage at one of the holes, while cart sponsorship ($50) includes signage for an individual or company on one of the golf carts.
Sponsorship and registration is limited and may be obtained by calling Niermann at (618) 436-6455. Cost for a team of four is $500 and individuals may pay $125 and be paired up with other individuals to form a team.
Prizes will be awarded for closest to the pin, the longest drive, the longest putt and many more achievements throughout the day.
New to this year’s scramble is the opportunity to participate in the dinner without golfing in the tournament. Dinner tickets are sold for $25 and may be purchased by contacting Niermann.
“This is not only a fun day of golf but a great way to support St. Mary’s Hospital,” said Niermann. “Proceeds will be used to upgrade medical equipment and facilities and provide exceptional patient care and education. By participating in our golf scramble, you will be making a positive impact on the quality of care provided to the patients of St. Mary’s Hospital.”
For more information or to register, call Niermann at (618) 436-6455.