Over a hundred local residents flocked to the Bonnyville Golf and Country Club this past weekend for the third annual Kleinmann Cup, with the yearly golfing extravaganza raising $30,000 for local charities.
The event, organized in the memory of local community lynchpins Bob and Gisele Kleinmann who tragically passed away in 2011, was once again led by the couple's three children – Ginette Markham, Becky Dube and Chris Kleinmann, with Markham admitting she was “blown away” by the continued support of the area's residents.
“I think this turned out to be a very, very successful event for us once again this year – we had 144 golfers out, which is a fantastic turnout and once all was said and done, we raised in the ballpark of $30,000, which again is absolutely fantastic,” Markham said when speaking to the Nouvelle over the weekend. “It's really amazing to see this community rallying together (for what we think) is a worthwhile cause. The Town of Bonnyville is so supportive and it's such a nice feeling to be able to count on the community to be here for these kind of events.”
She added, “In the three years we've been doing this, everybody has just been so incredibly supportive and generous.”
This year, the proceeds raised at the annual tournament will be going to several local causes, with $2,000 donated to the Bonnyville splash park committee, $5,000 to the Santa's Elves program, $5,000 to the Christmas hampers program and the bulk of the money – some $18,000, to the Rednecks With a Cause charity.
Gary Mostert, the man behind Rednecks With a Cause, said he felt “incredibly blessed” to have the opportunity to partner up with the Kleinmann Cup, pointing out the money the organization will be receiving will go “a long way” to raising awareness and educating individuals about autism.
“It's just an amazing blessing to be partnered up with a group of people like those behind the Kleinmann Cup,” Mostert said. “The Kleinmann family clearly was a family that loved this community and continues to love it, and so for us this is a gesture that they want to be a partner and supporter of what we intend to do for local families that deal with autism on a daily basis.”
He added, “This is the start of a relationship that will be long lasting in the community. We're really starting to see people partnering up with us to really help those in need in this community, which is the biggest encouragement we need to keep going and doing everything we're doing.”
Representing the Town of Bonnyville at the event were councilors Ray Prevost, Jim Cheverie and Lorna Storoschuk, who each had nothing by good things to say about both the Kleinmanns and the tournament.
“The Kleinmann Cup is a tournament we have annually and all the dollars raised through the event stay local. The rules of the game that the Kleinmann kids have established is that no matter what, (the benefactor) must be a local charity established in Bonnyville,” Prevost said. “So I think it's important for the Town to get out and participate in this because we're actually giving an indirect helping hand to a bunch of local charities.”
“Bob and Gisele contributed to this Town every single day they lived here,” Cheverie said. “Most people in town knew them, they were fantastic people and this annual event, even though they're gone, ensures that the Kleinmanns are still contributing to the welfare of the town and kids in town to this day.”
“This is just a fantastic event that we all very much enjoy taking part in – it's lots of fun, there are lots of good people here and you don't have to be a good golfer to golf. And the bottom line is everyone raising a bunch of money for charity, so what's not to like and enjoy,” Storoschuk added.
Despite what has become a lengthy planning and organizing process, Markham said she was “totally committed” to putting on the Kleinmann Cup, stating it is a “fitting way” to both remember and carry on all the “great work” the Kleinmanns did in Bonnyville over the years.
“The Kleinmann Cup is an event that I find has different levels for us,” Markham said.
“We're so thrilled that we can continue mom and dad's legacy and ensure they can continue to be a part of this great community they called home, and ensure they are continuing to be part of the community and contributing in some way.”
She added, “Bonnyville was very, very important to them. They loved the community here and they loved being a part of it, so it's just so nice that we can continue their work, while it's also a nice opportunity for us to come back to town and be with family and friends and just see everyone each year.”
With this year's Kleinmann Cup now on the horizon, Markham was quick to thank all of those in town that made the third annual event as big a success as it was.
“This is an event that is incredibly touching to us on numerous levels and the support we've seen for the past three years has been unbelievable and I just can't thank everybody enough for all of their ongoing support,” Markham added.
