Charity tee party
By Wil Anderson
Argus Observer
Sunday, August 31, 2008 12:36 AM PDT
PAYETTE—For something that started out as just wanting to get more involved with the community, the Steve’s Hometown Dealerships Community Golf Benefit has become an end of Summer institute in the Eastern Treasure Valley.
The 19th annual Steve’s Hometown Dealerships Community Golf Benefit will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6 and Sept. 7, at both Rolling Hills Golf Course in Weiser and at Scotch Pines Golf Course in Payette.
Saturday, the event will begin with an auction at 6 p.m. on the patio at the clubhouse at Rolling Hills, as many different items have been donated. Anybody is welcome to attend, whether they are playing in the tournament or not.
At the auction, there will be hors d’oeuvres, refreshments and drinks, and the event is free to attend.
Sunday morning, the golf will begin, as 36, teams will start at 9 a.m. in a four person scramble at Scotch Pines.
“Nineteen years ago we just wanted to get involved in the community,” Steve Dominguez, owner of Steve’s Hometown Motors said. “It is great to give something back to the community. We used our first tournament to partner up with the hospital.”
Dominguez said the first tournament that was held help raise enough money for a baby warmer at Weiser Memorial Hospital, as the tournament brought in around $7,000, with simply a golf tournament.
Last year, the tournament raised around $32,000, and all the money was distributed to local charities. The has turned into a two-day gala, with an auction and tournament.
“All the funds come back to the local community,” Dominguez said. “All the proceeds get back to the Ontario and Weiser areas.”
The list of charities continue to grow, from the Elks, to the Special Olympics, to different schools in the area, to the local food banks.
According to Dominguez, there is always a place to distribute the money.
The two major charities which benefit the most from the tournament are Help Them to Hope, and the Malay’s Ho Ho Express.
Joe Malay, the founder of Malay’s Ho Ho Express, began the charity around 35 years ago, when he discovered he had a gift of gab, along with the time.
“I was sitting in a Santa suit downtown, getting wishes, when one guy came to me and wanted some shoes for Christmas,” Malay said about why he decided to start the foundation. “He was wearing his mother’s shoes. I thought wouldn’t it be nice to come up with a way to give it to them.”
Malay said in the first year he was able to raise $500 to help 11 kids with their Christmas wishes.
Last year, Malay was able to give 150 children an opportunity to spend $50 each for Christmas.
Still, neither Dominguez or Malay foresaw the tournament becoming so popular, or such a great source for raising money.
“A lot of times they are one and done,” Malay said about golf tournaments. “He (Dominguez) and his staff do a wonderful job.”
If anybody is interested in signing up their team, or interested in donating, contact Dominguez (208) 550-0580, Malay (208) 794-7166, Kellie Dickinson (541) 889-3151, or Kim Sprinkle (208) 549-3310.
