Sergio Garcia apologized to Tiger Woods for saying he would have “fried chicken” at dinner with his rival, a comment that Woods described as hurtful and inappropriate. “I want to send an unreserved apology.FORT WAYNE – It’s been quite a year for the Mad Anthonys.
The new format for their golf tournament, the Mad Anthonys Charity Classic for Children, was a success featuring 12 LPGA professionals. And they announced Wednesday that they had raised $740,000, a record, which according to outgoing tournament coordinator Jan Van Til, is a record for the cause.
The money raised – including a substantial contribution from Bruce Dye, president of Heritage Food Service Group – goes to the Mad Anthonys Children’s Hope House. That facility, on the campus of Lutheran Hospital, provides lodging and support services for children undergoing pediatric and neonatal treatment.
“I’m excited about what this money is going to do for the Children’s Hope House,” said Eric Ottinger, president of the Mad Anthonys, a group of business leaders and professionals from northeast Indiana.
The two-day golf tournament at Sycamore Hills Golf Club raised $140,000, believed to be about $20,000 short of its single-year high, and it included $100,000 raised through the Red Coat dinner, at which Butler basketball coach Brad Stevens was honored as Hoosier Celebrity of the Year.
There was $300,000 raised by the Mad Anthonys through other endeavors.
“That $300,000 was provided by area foundations, as well as corporate gifts and individual gifts,” Ottinger said. “Frankly, we have board members with good connections and they knew who to ask. The businesses and foundations in this community, once again, stepped up to help us with that check amount.”
Dye’s company was the presenting sponsor of the tournament, which has taken place since 1957, providing the $300,000 purse to the LPGA players. Belén Mozo won the $50,000 first prize, shooting 4 under through two days, including a final-round, course-record-tying 6-under 66.
Dye kicked in another $300,000 on Wednesday, matching the money raised by the Mad Anthonys through non-tournament means.
“Mad Anthonys Children’s Hope House provides such an invaluable and important service to our community, providing a supportive, home-like atmosphere for families in times of great need,” Dye said.
“I am proud and honored to be a part of this program and, through this donation, am looking forward to the Hope House expanding to serve more families in the future.”
Ottinger doesn’t yet know whether next year’s golf tournament will feature LPGA pros, such as Amanda Blumenherst, who grew up in Fort Wayne and arranged for all the pros this year.
But it sounds as if the Charity Classic for Children will be similar to this year’s.
“We continue to hear great feedback about bringing pros to Fort Wayne and feel that to be different from any other charity event, we need to spend the dollars to put on a first-class golf event that includes the professional talent,” Ottinger said.
