Members of District 70 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) in Wichita, Kansas, organized a charity golf tournament to raise funds for Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines (GDA | TLC). The event brought together thirty-three teams who played under best-ball rules, with a limit on scoring no more than par per hole. This approach was intended to keep play moving smoothly.
The tournament raised over $68,000 for GDA | TLC. According to organizers, it costs about $60,000 to train and raise a guide dog for someone in need. IAM District 70 Secretary-Treasurer Teressa Peart commented on the impact of the fundraiser: “To know that what you are doing is helping someone’s life, helping them gain their independence, it is a wonderful feeling for us,” said Peart. “It’s just an amazing thing”.
Dawson Hart, a military veteran from North Carolina who was blinded by an IED explosion during the Iraq war, attended the event with his guide dog Bauer. Hart has relied on service dogs from GDA | TLC for ten years and expressed his appreciation by volunteering at the tournament. “Making donations is fine, but that’s not meeting somebody, that’s not shaking somebody’s hand and saying thank you for saving my life, because that’s what they do,” said Hart. “That’s what these folks right here are doing.”
The event sold out quickly after registration opened. IAM Local 774 President Brian Alexander explained how demand exceeded expectations: “Within the first couple of weeks of registration for the tournament we were sold out, nothing more was left, but we kept getting calls: ‘Hey can you add my team? How can you say no? So the locals and the district worked with Mattie and her staff at Sand Creek Station Golf Course and we made a way,” said Alexander.
IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin noted that District 70 managed to host this fundraiser while also conducting important union business: “This is a perfect way to celebrate the Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines 77th birthday,” said Martin. “District 70 had a lot of events going on simultaneously that weekend with a major ratification vote for Bombardier members, but they still found time to give back to this important charity. Thank you to all who participated”.
The winning team finished with a score of 58—14 under par—for this charity-focused competition.
