Area business leaders to raise money for education at annual golf outing

Area business owners hitting mulligans on a golf course in Midland this fall will be helping to fund several area educational programs.

The Mulligan Masters, which will be held on Sept. 15 at the Currie Municipal Golf Course, will feature a day of golf, prizes, and fundraising for several educational programs run by the Midland Chamber Foundation. The event, now in its 20th year, is open to chamber members who want to do a little golfing, enjoy some exposure in the business community, and raise some money for the organization's Partnerships for Education program.

About 144 people are expected to attend this year's event, says Patty Aspin, vice president of operations at the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce. For anyone who hits a hole-in-one this year, prizes will include $10,000 or a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. A golf getaway package also is on tap for the grand prize winner at this year's event.

Beyond the day of golfing and fun, the annual event helps fund several important education programs, Aspin says. The chamber and the chamber foundation help the area's business and education leaders come together to develop programs that benefit both communities.

"We are the bridge between those two communities," she says. "And we provide funding for the programs that they put together."

Some of those programs include an annual career showcase where employers help students decide on the right career direction, an annual job fair for students, and an at-school program called the Reality Store that helps students understand the role that their career choices play in their financial futures.

Writer: Jenny Cromie
Source: Midland Area Chamber of Commerce, Patty Aspin