Spring Fire fundraiser brings in over $1,000

...

By Ruthanne Johnson
MONTE VISTA— Over $1,000 was raised for Spring Fire victims during a recent benefit sponsored by the Monte Vista Golf Club.
Nearly 100 people attended the pulled pork dinner held at the Monte Vista course on Friday evening, July 13. The fundraiser was the idea of the club’s general manager Ingrid Watson, who said their greenskeeper is a Monte Vista firefighter, and the city also has a lot of guys who helped with the fire before it became a federal undertaking. “It was important to me to help the fire victims and firefighters,” said Watson.
After receiving a green light from the course’s board of directors, Watson asked the greenskeeper, Terry VanBibber, for suggestions about organizations helping wildfire victims. From there, planning went fast. “I posted the event on our Facebook page and did a paid promotion that really helped,” Watson said. “We also had a lot of people helping to spread the word.”
Watson was just about ready to submit a public service announcement to a local radio station, when a friend shared with her that the station had just aired an announcement about the event.
It seemed the event had taken on a life of its own.
Four local LuLaRoe clothing consultants also contacted Watson to help. The ladies brought their clothing line to the event and donated $5 out of their own pockets for every item sold. LuLaRoe matched the donation with $3 per item sold as well.
Longtime club member Jeff Holder smoked 73 pounds of pulled pork the night before the dinner. Stars and Strikes Bowling Alley donated potato salad, and the golf club was able to repurpose two beer kegs that had been donated by Coors for a tournament the previous weekend.
The event was planned in just one and one-half weeks, and more than $1,000 was raised: $600 from the dinner, $250 in straight donations and $250 from the LuLaRoe consultants.  
But the event was about more than helping folks impacted by the fire. The Monte Vista Golf Club, too, has been severely affected by this year’s drought. “Our course was in bad shape from the lack of snow this winter,” said golf course board member Adelmo Martinez. Business was so bad for a while that there was even talk about closing the course altogether. But an emergency work session with the Monte Vista City Council brought in a few ideas, like decreasing green fees and promoting events.  
The course’s green fees were subsequently reduced, which has helped inspire new business. For 18 holes, the cost is now $20. Nine holes is only $15, and golf club rentals are $10 for adults and free for juniors (ages nine to 15 years old). This is a great time for anyone wanting to learn how to golf, said Martinez. “And the course is looking better and better every day.” 
 Watson says it’s her hope that the Spring Fire Fundraiser will help people see the golf course as a venue outside of golf. “We can do events like fundraisers, graduations, weddings and things like that. We even have a class reunion coming up during Stampede week.”
The club usually does anywhere from three to five events a year. Watson would like to build that number up to about 25 events a year. “I hope this fundraiser brings awareness that we’re here. and we need the community’s help.”


Video News