Fort Yuma Rotary hosts Pars Under the Stars at Desert Hills

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The Fort Yuma Rotary Club held its 26th annual Pars Under the Stars event over the weekend, bringing together 18 teams in an effort to raise funds while also honoring the memory of a longtime member of the club.

Although fundraising remained a central goal, the event also served as a tribute to a former Rotarian whose legacy continues to resonate within the organization. Festivities began with a ball drop on the green just outside the clubhouse. The first ball to land in the hole earned a prize of $2,000, while additional balls that found their way into the hole were each awarded $100. Another $100 prize was given to the ball that rolled the farthest from the hole.

Fort Yuma Rotary member Jeffrey Polston emphasized the broader impact of the event, saying, “[It is] great for the community because whatever money we make, we give all back to the community, a lot of it... there’s a lot of people that are community-minded here.”

Fellow member Mark Hansberger explained that the ball drop, known as the “Brunner Brunner Ball Drop,” was named in honor of Ted Brunner, a former member remembered for his dedication and personality.

“They call it the Brunner Ball Drop, and they named it after Ted Brunner because he was such a terrific Rotarian and salesman. He could sell ice to an Eskimo, and he was a heck of a ball salesman,” Hansberger said.