Benevolent Golf Tournament returns to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Firefighters’ Benevolent Golf Tournament will be making its return on Aug. 27, following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Benevolent foundation chair Jason Koziol said that they are excited about the return of the tournament. This will be the tournament’s second year.

“Initially, it started the year prior to COVID,” Koziol said. “That was our first annual golf tournament, and then COVID struck, and we had two years of absence. Right now, it’s firing back up for this year, and so we’re hoping nothing else happens – no more pandemic happens.”

The benevolent foundation, part of Moses Lake Firefighters Union Local 1258, raises money to give back to the community: Operation Warm gives jackets to children during the colder months and Firefighters for Kids assists families during the holiday season. The fund also supports displaced residents due to fires, among other things.

“Our benevolent foundation is a non-profit group that helps out between different charity causes here,” Koziol said.

The fund raises money through a variety of means, including the tournament.

“Our benevolent fund, it generates its own money through things like the golf tournament,” Koziol said. “We’ve done car washes and things like that. The pancake breakfasts.”

The tournament, a best ball-style event, was a success in its first year, which inspired Koziol to bring it back when it was available to do again.

“We’re kind of hoping that this event will be one of our main events throughout the years,” Koziol said. “So we can generate funds for our causes throughout the community or charities.”

Koziol said that the previous tournament had solid involvement.

“Between enrollment of the golf tournament, meaning golfers and sponsorships, and we also had games and events at the golf tournament, I think we were a little bit under $7,000.”

As well as raising money, Koziol said that one of the goals for this year’s outing is to solidify itself as a community staple.

“Obviously we’d like to meet or exceed the previous year,” Koziol said, “but the goal is, in my mind, to get it restarted back in the community. To get it going, and hopefully in the following years to get better and better. It takes time before it gets going.”

Raffles and prizes will also be available to the participants.

“We have four tickets to a Mariners game of your choice,” Koziol said. “There’s the tickets, some golf swag, we got donated a Yeti-style cooler and free window tinting by Line-X in Moses Lake. I got a gift card and stuff from Sportsman’s Warehouse - kind of a very outdoors package.”

For those interested in registering for the tournament, they can do so as a single golfer for $150 or as a foursome for $500. Registration can be done at https://bit.ly/3SUkqKx.

The website also has a donation page for those interested in supporting the Benevolent Fund without playing golf. For questions about the tournament as a whole or the Benevolent Fund, contact local1258charity@gmail.com.

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.