Written by James Miller from McKinstry.

  It began as a gathering of friends. Eight recent college grads, looking for something to do on the morning of July 4th, 1998. So we went golfing and, of course, placed a wager for lunch afterward. A tournament was born.  Looking back 20 years now, our annual gathering has endured through careers, marriage and children and an untimely and tragic death. The unthinkable happened. Our dear friend, Bryan Beale, died in a motorcycle accident. Because Bryan was a junior high band teacher, his parents set up a memorial fund to help send kids to band camps. We donated the funds from our golf tournaments. It seemed like a modest amount, but it impacted the youth it supported. Our circle expanded and we began collecting donations for additional causes we cared about. As our families grew, we began to understand the challenges associated with having and raising kids. So, in 2017, we redirected our giving. We selected Safe Crossings Foundation as our charity. We were able to donate $3,000 in one year. A modest amount, but impactful nonetheless. We are ecstatic to dedicate our annual golf tournament to Safe Crossings again in 2018 and beyond. Before I sign off, I want to leave you with one piece of advice. Take part in life. No matter where we are, there are always a few charitable hours to give. And even a few hard earned dollars can make a significant impact. Don’t wait until you can “afford it.” Follow your passions. Give where it makes sense. Don’t be bashful about modest contributions. Give of yourself and the rest will work out. Play well. James