SEICAA Golf Tournament raises funds for Home Heating Security
Tied for first in the Project Warmth tournament was Team Bayer.
The annual Project Warmth Classic, a five-person golf scramble tournament held at the Oregon Trail Country Club, is SEICAA’s largest and longest-running effort to build an energy assistance fund and assist impoverished individuals with outstanding heating costs. While the tournament was not held during COVID, it has otherwise been a yearly event since its inception in 1993.
Entry fees of $50 per player ($250 per team) are used toward the energy assistance fund, and the prizes given out for the tournament are donated from a large number of local and regional businesses, organizations, and individuals.
While no one claimed the “Hole in One” prize, City of Soda Springs Team 3 (Hansen, Beardall and Beardall) came in first place, tied with the team from Bayer (J. Bartlome, S. Bartlome, N. Potter, Jesse A., and T. Allen). Teams from Intermountain Gas (J. Murphy, B. Lance, K. Crystal, A. Snyder, and J. Snyder) and Vaughan Smith Construction (P. Hillaker, G. Hillaker, R. Hadlock, L. Stringham, and T. Shurtliff) tied for third.
Project Warmth is an initiative that has been a part of the local SEICAA effort for many years, and provides a considerable amount of the funding necessary to maintain the energy assistance program. The program allows those with limited financial means to apply for energy assistance to help with home heating costs, especially during Idaho’s long winters. The program has been enormously successful in the area, and has contributed to the quality of life for many Caribou County residents.
SEICAA serves seven counties in southeast Idaho—Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida, and Power. With regard to its mission, the organization states, “SEICAA is dedicated to providing opportunity and support for individuals and communities to thrive and reach their fullest potential, promoting self-sufficiency and greater economic independence through services, education, affordable housing and training.” SEICAA is one of the over a thousand Community Action Agencies across the country which work to support community members in similar ways.
Executive director Joe Borich was on site to draw names for the raffle, and announce the winners of this year’s tournament. Joining him were SEICAA employees Erica Farnes and Patrick Perry.
“The wind was pretty harsh out there,” Joe Borich said. “But we didn’t get rained out, so that’s a win.” Indeed, gusts were fairly consistent throughout the morning and afternoon, making the play even more of a challenge than usual. Nonetheless, it’s very much worth it, according to Borich. “Volunteer and support is literally amazing here in Caribou County,” he said.
“This money goes a long way to replenishing the warmth fund,” Patrick Perry added. “Every dollar raised through this stays here in Caribou.”
Every year is a different set of economic and other circumstances, but Borich, Perry, and Farnes anticipated that like most years, the amount raised would fall between 5 and ten thousand dollars for the program.
The City of Soda had two other teams represented. Other teams included Willard House, Sims, SEICAA, Team Owen, Shimmick, Cache Davids, Itafos, and A+ Contractors.
Ryan Farnes and Nikki Hansen won the longest drive honors. Kevin Fay was recognized for the longest putt. Justin Painter was given the closest to the pin award.
A large number of prizes and raffle items were donated by the community and other supporting parties. As participants gathered in the clubhouse following the tournament, prizes were given out by way of raffle. In addition to the cash prize, many gift certificates, items, services, and other valuables were raffled.
Pizza Pie Café, Vaughan Smith Construction, Quick Stop, Intermountain Gas, Rapid Car Wash, Star Physical Therapy, Lallatins,nGrease Monkey, Jiffy Lube, Buffalo Wild Wings, Soda Sip, Jeri Seelos, Caribou Medical Center, Soda Springs Floral, Mountain View Dental, Soda Smiles, Texas Roadhouse, Firehouse Subs, and others contributed to the raffle. Apologies to any sponsor left off the list accidentally.
