It's pretty common for non-profit organizations to run golf tournaments. Most chambers of commerce, trade associations and charitable foundations find them to be both a fun reward for members and volunteers, as well as a good way to augment operating budgets.
The Rhode Island Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors has been running a golf tournament since the early 1990s. Harvey Simms became the chapter president in 2005 and helped plan and run the golf tournament for three years before his sudden passing in July, 2007.
Beginning in 2008, the Rhode Island Chapter of ABC renamed the Golf Tournament in Harvey Simms' memory, and a portion of the proceeds are now dedicated to a scholarship named the "Harvey Simms Memorial Scholarship."
July 21 marks the 8th annual Harvey Simms Memorial Golf Tournament. The event will, once again, be held at Alpine Country Club. "Giving ABC members and their friends and colleagues the opportunity to play at a first-class, private Golf Club has proven to be a very popular decision," according to Lynn Kent, 2015 ABC chair of the board. "Last year's tournament was our biggest yet, with over 100 golfers."
A tournament of this scope can't be run by a small non-profit Association office. Chapter president Robert Boisselle and the chapter's director of training, Kristen Brescia, have a great deal of help from a volunteer committee and the board of directors. One thing that makes this tournament popular is the level of prizes, both for placing first, second or third in the competition, and for the many raffles that are held during the dinner that follows golf. Thanks to the volunteers and ABC members, all of those prizes are donated...including an LED flat screen TV, iPad Mini, Coleman tailgating grill, hundreds of dollars worth of gift cards, beverages, tools and golf equipment.
"Having those items donated by our members helps keep costs down and makes the Harvey Simms Memorial Tournament that much more successful," said Boisselle. "And the number of sponsorships we sell just adds to that."
With the help of the volunteers and the inspiration of honoring the memory of Harvey Simms, the golf tournament has grown into something very special.
The tournament is still about two months away, but already it is more than half sold out. The 8th annual Harvey Simms Golf Tournament will begin with lunch at 11:30 a.m. on July 21 at Alpine Country Club. A 1 p.m. shotgun tournament will be followed by dinner, raffles and prizes.
For more information, visit www.abcri.org and click on the tournament in the calendar of events.