The sun shone, the birdie blitz began and the donations came rolling in as the Richmond Hospital Foundation’s annual golf tournament made a triumphant post-pandemic return.
After a three-year, COVID-induced hiatus, 132 players took to the fairways and greens Monday at Richmond Country Club.
And once the dust had settled on a fabulous day and night of fun and philanthropy, the foundation had more than doubled its $85,000 target, with the funds going to its Trio of Life campaign to buy equipment for the hospital’s cardiology and pulmonary programs.
At the event’s post-golf cocktail reception, the Richmond News caught sight of foundation president and CEO Natalie Meixner, who was aglow with joy at seeing so many supporters having fun in the sun.
Happiness in people's faces
“I think it was seeing the community all coming together and being together in person. You could see the happiness in people’s faces,” explained Meixner.
“The cultural richness of Richmond was there for all to see. That’s what brings that look to my face.”
Meixner credited the $170,000 (and rising) total to the fact the community was back together and was able to hear, in person, the impact of their donations.
“Over the last two years, the community has shown how strong it is and people were inspired by being together and having this common cause and wanting to take action,” added Meixner, who also praised the hard work of Richmond News publisher Alvin Chow, who was chair of the golf tournament committee for the first time.
Strong committee a key to success
Chow, in turn, said the event could not have been as successful as it was without the “strong backing” of the rest of the committee.
“As tournament chair, not actually playing at the tournament gave me a different perspective of the event while (going around the course) with Natalie,” said Chow, who noted the “bidding wars” at the after-dinner live auction as one of his highlights of the day.
“It was much more than just the birdies and eagles, but about the donations to the cause, which was more than double our goal.”
