Abbotsford – The final numbers are in for the 2018 Nick Taylor Charity Pro-Am, and they’re beyond what anyone involved would have imagined for Year 2 of the event.
The sold-out event, hosted by PGA Tour golfer Taylor in conjunction with the University of the Fraser Valley golf program and presented by Algra Bros. Developments, featured a gala dinner on Sept. 13 followed by an 18-hole tournament the next day at Ledgeview Golf Club.
Approximately $125,000 was raised for the UFV golf program and a pair of local charities selected by Taylor and wife Andie: The Starfish Pack program, which provides backpacks of food for needy school children in Abbotsford and Chilliwack to take home for the weekend, and 27Blue, a program which offers mental health support for youth.
Beyond that, an additional $45,000 was pledged to establish new endowed scholarships for the Cascades golf program, and those funds were matched by UFV.
The grand total? $215,459.
“It’s an incredible result,” Nick Taylor enthused. “The gala went really well and raised a lot of money for Starfish Pack and 27Blue, and the golf tournament the next day was successful as well.
“We definitely exceeded expectations this year, and I’m excited to see where we go from here.”
Cascades golf head coach Chris Bertram said he was “floored by the success of the event” on all levels.
“The event came together around the idea of the shared core values of commitment to excellence and support for the community in which we live,” he said. “Those two things have been drivers for our golf program for years, and they are shared by our presenting sponsor Algra Bros., and of course by Nick and Andie Taylor. When people come together for the right reasons and with a clear goal in mind, amazing things can happen. The whole experience was such a positive community event, and surpassed every one of our expectations.
“Obviously we are thrilled with the donations that poured in at the gala on Thursday and at the Pro-Am on Friday. As a result, a whole bunch of kids who are currently waitlisted at Starfish Pack are going to get food. What is more important than that?
“And our golf team is going to be in a very strong position for the upcoming year, including three new endowed scholarships that were committed as a result of the event.”
Phil Algra, of presenting sponsor Algra Bros., said it’s gratifying to be part of a project that will have such a positive local impact.
“It’s a privilege to be part of a group of good like-minded people who are working together to make a positive difference in the community,” he said. “If you have a goal and create a strategy to reach it, you’ll have the best chance to achieve it. All in all, it’s a huge success.”
