CIRI hosted the 24th annual CIRI Golf Classic on Aug. 1 at Moose Run Golf Course in Anchorage. One hundred thirty-seven players in 34 teams of four enjoyed a rare day of sunshine on the course in what had been a cold and wet Anchorage summer.
CIRI anticipates awarding each of the recipient organizations around $20,000. CIRI will also donate proceeds from mulligan sales to First Tee of Alaska, an organization that provides learning facilities and educational programs for youth and golf.
The CIRI Golf Classic began in 1983 as the Peak Alaska Invitational Golf Tournament, a small tournament for associates and employees of Peak Oilfield Service Co. CIRI took over the coordination of the event two years later. The tournament has since raised more than $1.3 million for programs benefiting youth and education.
CIRI thanks the many generous sponsors of the Golf Classic, especially top sponsors Marsh Inc., Construction Machinery Inc. (CMI), Peak Oilfield Service Co., Challenge Life Youth Foundation, Nabors Alaska Drilling Inc., Alaska Airlines, Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa and Doyon Ltd. CIRI also thanks the many volunteers that made the Golf Classic possible.
CIRI Golf recipients
Campfire USA Alaska Council’s Community Center Program
Camp Fire USA Alaska Council through its Community Center Program provides daily after-school programs for youth in the underserved Anchorage neighborhoods of Fairview and Loussac Manor. Families do not pay fees for their children to attend. Approximately 150 youth participate daily.www.campfireak.org
Cook Inlet Tribal Council’s Native Youth Olympics
Cook Inlet Tribal Council hosts the annual Native Youth Olympics and Junior Native Youth Olympics. Youth in grades 1-12 throughout Alaska come together in a unique cultural and sporting event that promotes healthy lifestyles, positive self-esteem and leadership skills; fosters an appreciation of Alaska Native traditions; and develops good sportsmanship through friendly athletic competition.www.citci.com
Covenant House’s Heading Home Project
Covenant House Alaska serves homeless and at-risk youth. More than 3,000 youth entered their programs in FY07. Thirty-nine percent of these youth were Alaska Native/American Indian. Covenant House is partnering with Cook Inlet Housing Authority on the Heading Home project, which aims to provide housing-focused assistance to youth in Covenant House’s programs.www.covenanthouseak.org
Southcentral Foundation’s RAISE Intern Program
Southcentral Foundation’s RAISE Program offers summer, winter and graduate programs for youth 14 to 19 years of age. The programs provide real-life work experience in the context of Native cultural values and introduce participants to health-related careers.www.scf.cc/raise.cfm
First Tee Alaska
First Tee is a World Golf Foundation initiative dedicated to providing young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through golf and character education, life enhancing values. The intent is to offer opportunities for improvement in the quality of life and create a platform where children can increase their potential for success. www.thefirsttee.org
