Members of District 70 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) in Wichita, Kansas, organized a charity golf tournament to raise funds for Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines (GDA | TLC). The event generated more than $68,000, which will go toward supporting the organization’s mission to provide guide dogs to people in need. According to GDA | TLC, it costs about $60,000 to train and raise a single guide dog.
Thirty-three teams participated in the tournament on a Saturday morning. The format was best-ball with four-person teams and a maximum score of par per hole. This rule was designed to keep play moving efficiently.
IAM District 70 Secretary-Treasurer Teressa Peart commented on the impact of the event: “To know that what you are doing is helping someone’s life, helping them gain their independence, it is a wonderful feeling for us,” said Peart. “It’s just an amazing thing”.
Dawson Hart, a military veteran who lost his sight due to an IED explosion during his service in Iraq, attended the tournament. He has benefited from GDA | TLC services for ten years and traveled from North Carolina with his current guide dog Bauer to meet participants.
“Making donations is fine, but that’s not meeting somebody, that’s not shaking somebody’s hand and saying thank you for saving my life, because that’s what they do,” said Hart. “That’s what these folks right here are doing.”
Brian Alexander, President of IAM Local 774, described the strong interest in participating: “Within the first couple of weeks of registration for the tournament we were sold out, nothing more was left, but we kept getting calls: ‘Hey can you add my team? How can you say no? So the locals and the district worked with Mattie and her staff at Sand Creek Station Golf Course and we made a way,” said Alexander.
The event also coincided with other significant activities within District 70. Craig Martin, IAM Southern Territory General Vice President stated: “This is a perfect way to celebrate the Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines 77th birthday,” said Martin. “District 70 had a lot of events going on simultaneously that weekend with a major ratification vote for Bombardier members, but they still found time to give back to this important charity. Thank you to all who participated”.
The winning team finished with a score of 58—14 under par—highlighting both competitive play and support for individuals who rely on service dogs.
