When Wayne & Sherry Middaugh retired the Middaugh Celebrity Golf Tournament in 2015, after 15 years, the opportunity arose for their good friends Glenn & Judy Howard to carry the torch onward and continue to support local healthcare at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). A world-renowned curling champion, Glenn put his success on the ice to work raising funds for his community.
In 2016, Glenn & Judy Howard partnered with Urbacon Inc, to host the first Glenn Howard Charity Golf Tournament supporting GBGH at the Midland Golf & Country Club. With the help of a great committee of volunteers from the community, the event raised $105,900 to help the hospital purchase two scope cleaning machines. The success continued in 2017, with more than $150,000 raised to purchase an automated dispensing unit for the hospital’s Pharmacy.
Wanting to have an even bigger impact on local healthcare for years to come, Glenn & Judy met with senior leaders at GBGH in 2018 and agreed to raise $300,000 for the hospital’s Operating Room Expansion Project.
Excited by the prospect of providing such important enhancements to the hospital, Urbacon committed to partner with the team, pledging $500,000 over the next 10 years to the tournament & GBGH.
“This tournament is an incredible example of what partnerships can do for local healthcare,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “Glenn is so generous with his time, and his connections, to help strengthen our hospital’s services, which has a ripple effect on thousands of patients in our community.”
The 2018 tournament exceeded expectations, raising $151,185 toward the $300,000 commitment, and enabling the hospital to forge ahead with the surgical expansion. In 2019, an additional $113,000 was raised for the project, meaning that the project will be fully funded in 2020.
“The funds from the Glenn Howard Golf Tournament have been instrumental in purchasing new equipment to support expanded urology surgical services and a new ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) surgeon,” says Dr. Eileen Sacks, surgeon at GBGH. “This financial commitment will allow us to purchase new equipment to expand gynecology operative procedures, anti-reflux surgeries and grow our laparoscopic hernia repair program.”
In 2020, the tournament is getting a makeover, and will be officially known as the Glenn Howard Charity Golf Classic. The new branding highlights Glenn’s passion for both curling and golf, and emphasizes the fun atmosphere the tournament is known for. A complete sell-out every year, the event focuses on fundraising through golfer registration, and a live and silent auction after dinner. The on-course activities include hole-in-one contests, delicious food and beverage sampling, and the Par-Tee on the Green after party keeps guests dancing late into the night.
This year’s tournament will take place on Friday, July 3rd 2020 at the Midland Golf & Country Club.