Golf Outing Benefits Boomerang Backpack Programs; Teams & Sponsors Still Sought
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David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
LEESBURG – More than 600 students from the three Kosciusko County school districts had food to eat on weekends during the past school year thanks to the Boomerang Backpacks program. The biggest fundraiser to get the program started each school year is the annual golf outing, according to organizers. The second annual Boomerang Backpacks Golf Outing is June 16 at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club, 7245 N. Kalorama Road, Leesburg. It supports the programs at Warsaw, Wawasee and Tippecanoe Valley. Shotgun start is at 8 a.m. Registration is 30 minutes prior to start time. Entry fee is $400 and includes greens fees and lunch for four. PayProMedia is providing lunch for the event. Boomerang Backpacks is a free food distribution program that provides free/reduced lunch students a backpack filled with healthy food for the weekend, according to the program’s website. Warsaw Community High School junior Joelle Schram is one of the students who helps with the program at Warsaw. “Just knowing all the work and effort we put into it on our side benefits kids that really need help makes it worth it,” she said. Tracey Akers, Warsaw Community Schools program coordinator and head nurse, said last year’s golf outing was very successful. “We raised almost $8,000 and we want to try and do that again,” she said. Connie Geer, program coordinator for Wawasee Schools, said with the program they are trying to eliminate food insecurities. The programs were started at the school corporations because the free and reduced lunch population is more than 50 percent. If someone makes a hole-in-one on hole 13, they will win a jeep from Warsaw Autoplex. Akers said there also will be a 50/50 raffle like at the 2013 event. “We’re looking for teams and sponsors,” Akers said. Sponsorship opportunities for the golf outing are available by contacting Mark Cockroft at 260-413-2507 or mark.cockroft@boomerangbackpacks.org; Connie Geer at 574-457-6553 or cbgeer@mchsi.com; or Tracey Akers at 574-269-2742 or trakers@warsaw.k12.in.us Hole sponsors are $100. Silver level sponsors are $500 and includes hole sponsor and complimentary fee for one foursome. Gold level sponsors are $1,000 and includes two hole sponsors and complimentary fee for two foursomes. Platinum sponsors are $2,500 and includes banner at event and complimentary fee for four foursomes. Presenting sponsors are $5,000. For more information on Boomerang Backpacks, visit the website at www.boomerangbackpacks.org
