Council distributes proceeds from golf tournament

January 23, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
Golf may not be the strongest suit for Caledon councillors, but their annual golf tournament results in a lot of good.
Council recently handed out the cheques to the groups and agencies benefitting from this year’s tournament, which was held Sept. 11 at Osprey Valley Golf Course near Alton.
Councillor Doug Beffort, who with his wife Doreen, organized this year’s tournament, told his colleagues the 2013 edition was the most successful ever.
The tournament has been held annually since 2004, and Beffort told councillors that prior to this year, it had resulted in more than $497,000 being donated to various causes. This year’s success sent that number up to more then $625,000.
Beffort thanked his colleagues for their support, stressing it takes a team to bring something like this about. He also thanked his wife for leading the team for the last four years. He also thanked Town staff, as well as the people at Osprey Valley.
This year’s tournament attracted about 290 golfers.
The staff report to council stated this year’s tournament raised $140,842, with the operating expenses coming to $34,770.
Staff also reported council decided in February to designate Headwaters Health Care Foundation as the primary recipient of this year’s proceeds.
Councillors recently presented a cheque for $100,000 to representatives of the Foundation. Staff explained that its the total of $82,280 fro the proceeds of the tournament, as well as $17,720 raised from the tournament, but recognized as direct revenue
Other recipients were Caledon Meals on Wheels, which received $10,000; Sandhill Pipe Band — $3,000; the Bolton Cenotaph project of the local Business Improvement Area (BIA) — $3,000; Caledon Village Association — $500; Alton Grange Association — $500; Caledon Tennis Youth Program — $500; Alton Cemetery Board — $500; St. Andrew’s Cemetery — $500; and Caledon Townhall Players — $500.
Mayor Marolyn Morrison made a point of praising the amount of work Mrs. Beffort puts into the tournament. She also observed councillors have their jobs to do, ranging from collecting funds to delivering the potatoes for the dinner.
“Every year, we’ve seen it grow, grow, grow,” she said. “It all goes back to our community.”

Representatives of various community organizations were on hand recently to receive some of the proceeds from this year’s Caledon Council Charity Golf Tournament.
Photo by Bill Rea