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Record year for annual Children's Clinic golf outing
ANDERSON — In its 40th year, the annual Kids Classic Pro-Am golf outing attracted a record number of golfers and donations.
Organizer Nancy Anderson said Thursday at the Anderson Country Club that a record 220 golfers took part in the annual fundraiser for the Peyton Manning Children's-St. John's Children's Clinic.
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She said a record $131,000 was raised, bringing the total raised to $3 million since the outing began in 1984.
Only in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, was there not an annual golf outing to raise funds for the clinic.
'All the funds go 100% to the Children's Clinic,' she said.
St. Vincent Ascension Hospital Kids Classic Pro-Am
Organizers Brian Hammond and Nancy Anderson discuss the significance of the St. Vincent Ascension Hospital Kids Classic Pro-Am, which celebrated its 40th anniversary Thursday.
Anderson said it was the best event ever with a change having golfers take to the golf course in the morning and afternoon.
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Among those in attendance was the Indiana Pacers mascot, Boomer, and two Pacemates, who appeared following the Pacers' win Wednesday night over Oklahoma City in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
They were joined by the mascot for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA.
Aaron Loy of Portland was playing in the golf outing for the fourth time, and is the manager for the Children's Clinic.
'It was a no-brainer for me to play,' Loy said.
He said he plays golf just once a year.
'It's amazing to see all these people come out and the impact it has throughout the year for all the kids,' Loy said.
The clinic serves around 2,000 kids on an annual basis.
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'We provide everything from annual testing, lab tests. Anything they need we will take care of it,' Loy said.
Andrew Brinks has played on a Fredricks Construction team for six years and also only plays once a year.
'Raising money for the Children's Clinic is what brings us out,' he said. 'We're really interested in helping the local foundations in the Madison County area. We're really happy to support this and they do good work here.'
The first golf outing took place in 1984 and was hosted by community icon Carl Erskine and community leader Wilbur Roby.
In 2009, Erskine passed the torch to Jim and the late Marilyn Ault, who co-chaired alongside former Golf Channel host and Anderson native Brian Hammons.
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There were signs at the entrance honoring Erskine, Roby and Marilyn Ault.
Over the years, the event has drawn support from sports and community icons including Peyton Manning, Sandi Patty, Archie Manning, Bill Polian, Larry Bird, and Bobby 'Slick' Leonard.
This year the organizers brought in several professional golfers to join local teams.
Hammond said the professional golfers were competing for a $12,000 prize.
