All funds raised will help prevent child abuse and neglect through MountainStar Family Relief Nursery Programs
Kicking off its eighth season, the annual grassroots golf fundraising program, Birdies 4 Babies, has officially launched its 2012 season. The Birdies 4 Babies season-long program welcomes golfers of all abilities, from beginners to professionals and golf clubs throughout Oregon, to collect money for birdies (one under PAR) and for other great golf shots made during the golfing season. All proceeds support MountainStar Family Relief Nursery’s child abuse and neglect prevention programs that serve at-risk families with babies and toddlers throughout Deschutes County.
The 2012 fundraising goal is to raise more than $15,000 for MountainStar through birdies, matching gifts, and business sponsorships. The 2011 season brought birdie donations totaling $16,500, which helped MountainStar to serve 740 children and parents throughout the year. The services included over 6,277 visits to the campus for therapeutic early childhood classes, parent training, counseling, respite care, food boxes, donated children’s clothing and diapers, and 1,414 home visits to families by staff.
Since its inception, the Birdies 4 Babies program has generated more than $120,000 by local clubs and individual enthusiasts. Participating golf courses have included Aspen Lakes Golf Club, Awbrey Glenn Golf Club, Bend Golf and Country Club, Broken Top Golf Club, Crosswater Golf Club, Juniper Golf Club, Lost Tracks Golf Club, Pronghorn Golf Club, River’s Edge Golf Club, Sunriver Resort, Tetherow, and Widgi Creek Golf Club. Bank of the Cascades is the 2012 season sponsor.
“As a small nonprofit organization, this grassroots campaign makes a huge difference! Birdies 4 Babies was created in 2005 by MountainStar supporters who are also avid golfers. Eight years later, it has become a powerful way to demonstrate how much our community cares for young children,” says Executive Director Tim Rusk.
www.mountainstarfamily.org. To order a 2012 Birdies 4 Babies kit for your golf course or individual golf bag, sponsorship opportunities or questions, contact Jen Rusk at MountainStar Family Relief Nursery at 541-322-6820 or jenr@mountainstarfamily.org.
Birdies 4 Babies
During the summer of 2005, Birdies 4 Babies was conceived by former MountainStar Board members Kathy Murch and Joanne Michael, and four good friends of MountainStar; Susan Battistella, Melinda Bailey, Shelly Hummel and Susan Weir. Following the “Birdie Club” and “2 Club” tradition that rewards birdies with a dollar or two paid to the golfer, these six ladies agreed to collect all of their birdie money and donate it to MountainStar. Adopting the name “Birdies 4 Babies”, the six women contributed $500 “birdie” dollars to MountainStar at the end of the 2005 golfing season.
The 2011 Birdies 4 Babies season raised $16,500 for MountainStar. Men and women golfers from over 15 golf clubs in Deschutes County participated, with more than 500 B4B Golf Kits distributed throughout the golfing season. In addition, more than 12 local golf pros participated as “Professional B4B Birdiemakers”.
