High Fives Foundation reaches record fundraising goal at the Colorado Charity Golf Tournament 

Thirty-Six teams played at the Copper Creek Golf Course to raise over $50,000 for injured mountain athletes

(Vail, Colorado, September 7, 2016)— On August 30th, the High Fives Foundation hosted their second annual Colorado Charity Golf Tournament on the fairways at Copper Creek Golf Course at Copper Resort. The weather shifted from drizzling to dazzling, and spirits were always shining. Thirty-six teams of four came out to raise money for High Fives Athletes who are recovering from major life-altering injuries.

Between registration fees, silent auctions and open donations, over $50,000 were raised for the foundation. This is an all-time record for High Fives golf tournaments. The Foundation hosts tournaments in California, Vermont and Colorado. Last year, the Colorado event raised $34,000.

The $13,500 in funds raised in the silent auction were matched dollar for dollar by the Foundation For Greater Good. This encouraged participants to bid knowing their money counted double for the cause.

Four High Fives Athletes were in attendance at the welcoming ceremony: Trevor Kennison, Megan Wemmer, Steve Wallace and Tim Burr.

Professional skier Bobby Brown played in the tournament too, to show support for recovering mountain athletes

The event was a major success thanks to the title sponsors Phunkshun Wear, GoPro and Kind Design.

“This year’s event was phenomenal because the people in Colorado take care of their own,” said Roy Tuscany, Executive Director of the High Fives Foundation. “Everyone was here to raise money so that something like an injury won’t stop our athletes from being outdoors and doing what we love to do.”

Tuscany, 35, started in the Foundation in 2009 after the mountain community helped support him through the recovery process of his own injury. Now he’s replicated that process for 114 athletes in 23 states.

“When you put so many fun people together on a beautiful course for a great cause, you’re bound to have fun, but this was off the charts,” said Beth Pappas, Vail Recreation District’s sports event and sponsorship manager. “To watch some of their athletes overcome their injuries and participate in the tournament is so inspiring, and I was so honored to be a part of it.”

Throughout the day there was an array of on-course challenges like Longest Drive,, the Flop Wall Competition, Baseball Bat Longest Drive, and the Million Dollar Hole-in-One Competition.

The team from Craig Hospital were dressed in Scottish Kilts and brought a bagpipe player.

After the event, a special catered after party was hosted at JJ’s Tavern.

TOURNAMENT RESULTS:

1st Place Team (43) 26-Under Par

LINE SKIS

Derek Pappas, Ryan McBride, David Oliver, Cam Brown

2nd Place Team (46) 23-Under Par

Vail Brewing Company

James Oefelein, Guillaume Plante, Jason Heeringa, Joe Robinson

3rd Place Team (47) 22-Under Par

Team Lawrence

Kevin Lawrence, The Dog, Todd Mossa, John Cannon

BEST DRESSED (Braveheart w/ bagpiper)

Craig Hospital

LAST PLACE TEAM (68)

Freeskier / Spyder

VOLUNTEER AWARD

Jay Badgley of Phunkshun Wear

NOT MY TOWN AWARD

Derek and Beth Pappas

MENS LONG DRIVE

Max Lamb

WOMENS LONG DRIVE

Anna Giguere

WOMENS CLOSEST TO THE PIN

Suzie Filla 12 ft.

MENS CLOSEST TO THE PIN

Dylan Griffin 7ft. 8″

BASBEBALL BAT LONG DRIVE

Dylan Griffin

PUTTING CHAMPION

Mike Sherman

FLOP WALL CHAMPION

Jason Heeringa