Golf outing will help fund MRDD activities

$9,000 from last year’s event let area residents enjoy travel opportunities.

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer 1:12 AM Saturday, September 26, 2009

The Even the Score Golf Outing is back in swing this year, and event organizers hope it will raise lots of dough for those with developmental disabilities.

The outing is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 28 at Weatherwax Golf Course in Middletown. Registration is 10 a.m. Monday; cost is $100 per person or $25 for just dinner.

Last year’s event raised $9,000, which was used to organize and supervise recreational activities for Butler County Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities clients.

Without this event, “a lot of individuals would not get to do anything, because they just don’t have the budget,” said Ross Twp. resident Jean Sparks, whose son Duane, 41, is developmentally disabled.

Duane Sparks has used the money to help pay for trips to Nashville, Gatlinburg and a bat factory in Louisville — all through a group of people with disabilities called the Friendship Club.

“He’s gotten to meet a lot of people because of his traveling that he wouldn’t normally get to meet and see a lot of places he wouldn’t get to see,” Jean Sparks said, adding it gives him “independence” and “pride.”

Before the golf outing, Duane will take part in a putt and chip contest featuring local Special Olympians starting at 10:30 a.m. This will be followed by a shotgun start to the golfing event at 12:30 p.m.

The local nonprofit Arc of Butler County is sponsoring the event.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.

If you go

What: Even the Score Golf Outing, benefiting Butler County Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

Where: Weatherwax Golf Course, 5401 Mosiman Road, Middletown.

When: Monday, Sept. 28. Registration starts at 10 a.m.

Cost: $100 per person. $400 for a four-person team. $25 for dinner.

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Wow!The comments show;some of the public have NO IDEA.Come to the workshops!We are busy there assisting people and teaching them.We are enriching peoples lives everyday!We work with all ages of people from birth on..we don't just help kids!I pray that the people who are writing the negatives things have healthy family and don't have to use our services in order to know what we do! Come talk to these special people,NO most of the time you run..scared like you will catch something. I won't strike!

Mary C.
12:51 PM, 9/27/2009

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I thought they were "Erasing the "R-word"" from the agency's name, so why is the J-N still referring to it that way?

I mean, my daughter brought home a postcard from school informing us of this. How much money was wasted on that little PR stunt? How many of those cards do you think actually made it past the trash cans at school?

Stop wasting money on stupid crap & you would be able to use it where it is most needed - paying those who are doing the real work.

K
12:50 AM, 9/27/2009

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MRDD is nothing but a group of people who look for grants funded by taxpayers and set up benefits for more funds. Where do all these funds go? They pay their salaries!!! I have been in the MRDD office, all these people do is work the phones looking for more government (taxpayer) money. They spend maybe a few hours a week actually helping kids.

MRDD a Joke!!
5:47 PM, 9/26/2009

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Will the proceeds really go to the DD fund or will the comissioners siphon it off to some other pet project?

watch the money
4:30 PM, 9/26/2009

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(cont'd)
Unions have played a huge part in the work crisis that has been going on in this Country, which has been going on for many years. If unions didn't demand such high salaries and guaranteed pay increases for its workers maybe large companies wouldn't be forced to outsource jobs, or hire cheap labor (habla espanol?) FYI the UAW once demanded $60 dollars an hour for "tenured" employees,

I'm not going this year!
9:15 AM, 9/26/2009

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