Golfing for Good

“We partnered with a new host for 2022, The Course at Wente Vineyards, and we had all kinds of great activities and elements on top of the main game-play,” said Kelsey LaCour, marketing manager for the Bay Area. “The tournament always brings together a deep cross-section of people, and this year was no exception. We had trade partners, clients, and Turner folks joining us for a full day of refreshments, raffles, and networking. I think we had almost 250 people come through!”

Local small businesses, including a wood-fired pizza spot and a taco truck, provided unique food and drink along the course and at an end-of-day reception, raffle winners took home a mix of indoor and outdoor gear, from Yeti coolers to home sound system components.

Bianca Johnson, Community and Citizenship director for Northern California, added that the tournament raised more than $150,000 to be shared among a few local organizations and causes, including workforce development programs focused on both adults and students, local food banks, and more. “We invited representatives from each charity recipient to join us for the tournament day,” said Bianca. “One of the highlights for me was seeing them engage with the other tournament participants to further spread their mission. It was great to give donors and recipients a chance to build personal connections.”

As the team begins planning for next year’s tournament, they’re broadening their approach to selecting beneficiaries. “In addition to our planning committee charity selections, we’re opening up the pool to what we’re calling employee passion charities, which are causes near and dear to the hearts of our people,” explained Bianca. “We’ve asked our Bay Area teams if there are organizations they volunteer with, or if they’re active in a community group that might be a good fit. It’s already yielding an interesting roster -- one that reflects our values both as an organization and as individuals.”

“It’s a privilege to be in a position like ours, where we can raise this money and direct it to places where we know it will make a big difference,” added Kelsey, reflecting broadly on the golf tournament tradition. “It’s fun of course, and everyone really gets into the game. But everyone who participates also recognizes the value of the opportunity and takes the charitable causes to heart. It gives the whole experience an extra special feeling.”