Golf event raises thousands of dollars for kids with medical needs

Crippled and disabled children are a reality in our community. The Brawley Elks Lodge Annual Golf Tournament on Saturday raised money to make sure their needs are met.

Lodge member Kurt Rutherford explained where some of the funds go to.

“Therapists to go around to access children who don’t have in, say, urban area, where they can get the treatment and the therapy that they need,” Rutherford said.

Over 65 players came together to give back to the community. All local players countywide.

Lodge member and organizer Ron Stillman said, “help crippled children. We give scholarships to high school seniors. Bicycles at Christmas time to about a hundred-eight, I think we did last year. We live in the community, and we need to give back to the community,” Stillman said.

Brawley Council Member Sam Couchman applauds the work of the Elks, founded locally in 1921.

“The Elks are a community organization, but they’re also a nationwide organization founded many years ago. These events serve to bring in money to help worthwhile causes here in our community, such as helping disabled children, helping our disabled veterans,” Couchman said.

“On average, we give back to the community about twenty thousand dollars’ worth of money and scholarships and bicycles and things. Twenty thousand per year. And we love it. We love giving back to the community,” Stillman said.

Players saidy they like golf, but playing to help kids gives the game a deeper meaning.

“Elks care – elks share,” Rutherford said.