With 96 sponsors and 27 foursomes participating, the NubAbilityŽ Athletics Foundation raised $15,000 from its Aug. 16 golf scramble at Red Hawk Golf and Grille in Tamaroa.
NubAbility is a nonprofit dedicated to giving limb-different children coaching in mainstream organized sports, to increase their athletic skills, confidence and self-esteem.
"Starting with our first camp in 2011, the people of southern Illinois have always had our back," said Sam Kuhnert, NubAbility founder and executive director.
"Working together, we have made a difference in the lives of more than 1,300 limb-different children since then."
He said the success of the golf scramble will enable them to do three more sports clinics in 2020, including the golf event that was held at Red Hawk recently for local kids.
In response to COVID-19, the organization has shifted from large, multiday, multisport camps (in Du Quoin and elsewhere) to a series of regional one-day clinics. Ten clinics are scheduled between August 2020 and March 2021.
"We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, players, volunteers and Red Hawk for helping us to have a great day of golf in support of a great cause," said Sam Kuhnert. "We hope everyone will join us again next year!"
Sponsors
Scramble sponsors at the $1,000 level or above were Caring & Sharing Thrift Shop, Heartland Coca-Cola, and TSW Utility Solutions.
Sponsors at the $500-$1,000 level were DuQuoin Tourism Commission, Kurt Harris Law Firm, Linzee Insurance Agency and the Du Quoin Volunteer Foundation.
Sponsors at the $200-$500 level are Campanella and Campanella, Dan and Michelle Breslin, Emling and Hoffman, Floyd and Patricia Edwards, Interiors Designed by Lisa, Jeff and Vickie Tanner, Jessica Klaus, Moore Brothers of Southern Illinois, Murphy-Wall State Bank and Trust Company, Nancy Grosse, Perry County Marketplace and Tibretta Reiman.
The hole sponsors were A&A Storage Corp.; Abbie Takes Pictures; Aris Studios Promotions and Texts; B Spills Bar; Bigham Tanner and Foster; BJ's Garden Inn Cafe; Bubba Harsy for State's Attorney; Carl Sims (in memory of Cynthia Jean Sims); Chester and Frances Armstrong; Chris Hitt-Schlipf and family; the City of Du Quoin; Coldwell Banker: Billy Rogers; Greg Thompson, Steve Marek and Tony Etnier, all of Country Financial; Cravens and Cravens; Destiny Wiggins (in memory of Shawn Wiggins); Dr. Lucas and Taylor Steele; Du Quoin Home Lumber; Du Quoin Insurance; Du Quoin State Bank; Eclipse Insurance Agency; Edward Jones: Andrew Darnell; the Edwards family; Esquire Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Sports; Fenton Custom and Collision; First National Bank of Pinckneyville; First National Insurance Services; Flavor Anonymous; Flooring Now; Freedom Street Partners; Jana Kuhnert (in memory of Jill Payne Asbury); Jason Powell; Juice Plus: Carol Bastien; Knapp Propane; Kremer Plumbing; Kuhnert Electric; Law Office of Brian K. Zirkelbach; Law Office of Charlie Kuhnert; Lea Anne Templeton; Loyd and Sheryl Merriman; M&M Insurance Agency; Main Street T's; Margie Holland; Marshall Browning Hospital; Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial: Nathan Shupe; Nascote Industries; Northwestern Mutual: Jordan Kelly; Pete and Sue Patalas; Pinckneyville Ambulance Service; Porter's Pub; Preceptor Alpha Eta; Ray's Auto Body; Robert and Jacqueline Beckmann; Rolando's; RT Flooring; Ruth Mathis and family; Sam Kuhnert; Sanddys; Southern Homestead by Sassafras Woodworking; State Farm Du Quoin; Stuart Morgenstern, attorney; Vision Ministries; Vogler Ford: Greg Wilson; The W Restaurant and Lounge; Walker's Bluff; WIN Home Inspection and Xenia Manufacturing.
Eileen Koenegstein, McDaniel's Furniture, the Mike Eilers family, Pyatt Funeral Home, 24 Karat Travel and Walker's Bluff donated raffle prizes.
Casey's General Stores, Dianna Kuhnert, Heartland Coca-Cola, Red Hawk Golf and Grille and River Radio provided in-kind contributions. Hole-in-one prizes were sponsored by Black Diamond Harley-Davidson, Perry County Market Place and 24 Karat Travel.
NubAbility kids Luken Oden and Ryan Eilers expertly assisted golfers with a mulligan package on the fifth hole.
Winners
The winning team for the scramble included Ryan Tow, Alan Pulliam, Ransom Brooks and Dylan Eddington. They received custom engraved bottles of Maker's Mark and a gift certificate provided by Benton Golf and Country Club.
Longest drive winners were Torie Kuhnert and Adam Barczewski; closest to the pin winners were Chris Stewart and Marsha Seibert. All four received custom engraved bottles of Maker's Mark courtesy of Mike Eilers and family.
• For information about NubAbility and its programs, visit www.nubability.org, call (618) 357-1394 or email info@nubability.org.
