‘Everyone was really positive to be there and had a great time. They’re receptive about coming back and doing it again next year,’ said organizer of charity golf match
A charity run by university students recently hit a hole-in-one for The Soup Kitchen Community Centre.
The ‘Nine & Dine’ tournament at Crimson Ridge Golf Course not only sold out, it also garnered numerous community sponsors and raised $3,700 for the Soup Kitchen in July.
It was a big win for Landon Assiginack and Jack Tuckett, two Sault Ste. Marie natives entering their fourth year at Queen’s University. They both played a big part in organizing the tournament through their new student-run charity, Play4Purpose.
Founded with the goal of helping out youth, both students thought the tournament – the charity’s second venture – was a big success.
“It was really great to see the response from the community, and to have everyone there for a great cause was awesome,” Assiginack told SooToday.
“Everyone was really positive to be there and had a great time. They’re really receptive about coming back and doing it again next year, as well,” said Tuckett.
Given this year’s success, the charity plans to organize an 18-hole golf tournament again next summer to help out the Soup Kitchen again.
“I think it could be the start of something we can continue doing every year and raising money just for our local community,” Tuckett said.
“Hopefully, next year with the 18-hole tournament, we can raise the bar even higher and raise a lot more money,” said Assiginack.
Tuckett and Assiginack want to bring other tournaments to the Sault, as well, with a ministick tournament planned for this fall and a three-on-three basketball tournament possible in the new year, too.
“We have a ministick tournament coming up in October that we’re working on planning in the Sault, and various other events in the Sault and here in Kingston, as well,” Assiginack said.
Formed earlier this year by a group of Queen’s University students, Play4Purpose plans to organize benefit sports tournaments in all its members’ home communities – whether Sault Ste. Marie, Toronto, or elsewhere.
Prior to July’s golf tournament, the charity hosted a basketball tournament with White Pines Collegiate and Vocational School, which raised $2,000 to help lower the cost of elementary and secondary sports.
