“Ready … go!” shouts Rhonda Richardson, director of marketing for Trinity Place Retirement Community.
On her command, dozens of golf carts roll out onto the course. These carts carry the 88 golfers who are participating in the inaugural Trinity Place Charity Golf Tournament at Elm Lake Golf Course, Thursday.
“This is our very first golf tournament for a fundraiser,” Richardson said. “We’ve titled it ‘Disco Drivers.’ You can see that we’re in tie-dye. We kind of gave it a disco theme, just for fun. I like to theme things.”
The event was to raise money for the purchase of a new bus for the organization.
“We are doing this fundraiser to raise money to buy us a new transportation bus for the elders at Trinity,” Richardson said. “We need a special bus to be able to haul residents in wheelchairs and that sort of thing. The ones we have now are pretty old, so we need new transportation. A new bus is going to cost about $125,000. So, our goal is to get there.”
The tournament featured sponsorships ranging from $3,000 to $100.
So far, Trinity has come close to meeting its goal.
“We have a goal of $30,000,” Richardson said. “Right now we’re sitting at about $28,000. We’ve got a few expenses out of that, so we are hoping to really bump that and cushion those expenses today.”
Trinity offers three sections of senior living: independent living, assisted living and a skilled nursing center.
Local businesses sponsored teams and played a round to support the group and its mission.
Hollis Peel with Memorial Gunter Peel Funeral Home and Crematory was one of the participants.
He said the decision to play was an easy one.
“We were approached and told about the tournament and Trinity Place raising money for a van,” Peel said. “The seniors being such a great part of our community, whatever community you are in, it does your heart good to know that this is a worthwhile sponsorship. Hopefully they can get that van. You see people being carried all of the time throughout the community, so I know they will put it to good use. It’s just a great thing to be out on a great day with my son and his two buddies.”
Nick Bohon also came out to support Trinity.
“I know Rhonda, but they came to us and asked if we would sponsor a hole and come out and play golf for this event, raising money for their bus,” Bohon said. “I didn’t have a problem coming out to play a little golf for them. It’s a beautiful day and a great golf tournament so far.”
Richardson was happy with the participation, especially being the inaugural event.
“We set a limit of 22 teams, it’s a four man scramble, so a total of 88 golfers,” Richardson said. “We’ve got 88 golfers out here today. It’s incredible! It’s been a great turnout.”
The idea for a tournament was borrowed from one of the group’s sister campuses. It seemed like a sound fundraiser for the area, especially with support from Elm Lake Golf Course.
“We have one campus in Hernando that has (hosted a golf tournament) for 25 years and they have had great success,” Richardson said.
“We’ve never done it, so I was like, ‘Well, if they can, we can.’”
Local businesses also chipped in and provided door prizes. So much so, that everyone who participated received a door prize.
Richardson said it is support from the community that makes what they do at Trinity possible.
“We are just so thankful for all of our supporters,” she said.
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