Ag World’s Golf Classic raises money for Ronald McDonald House

MOSES LAKE - Now in its ninth year, Ag World Support Systems’ annual Golf Classic has been benefitting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Inland Northwest.

At this year’s event in Moses Lake, Ag World President and CEO Bryan Henninger said the competition had raised over $95,000 for the Ronald McDonald House in Spokane.

“When a family is in distress and all of a sudden their kid is in the ICU, the Ronald McDonald House offers a place to stay and be around them and support them when their world has been changed overnight,” Henninger said. “For me and my family, I had a son who had a lot of medical issues early on, and I was able to use the respite space in the Ronald McDonald House.”

The Golf Classic, which started as a one-day tournament, has now spread to a two-day competition in Kennewick and Moses Lake. Ag World’s goal is to raise as much money as possible for the Ronald McDonald House, with all proceeds going their way. It was started by Warren Henninger, and the tradition has carried on even after his passing.

“[Ag World has] been a long-time supporter and partner with us,” said Phil Harrison, Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House in Spokane. “This is their ninth golf tournament, Warren started it and now their family has continued it on, and it’s pretty incredible to have a third party like this that just takes on the fundraiser.”

Harrison said that fundraising events like the Golf Classic are a significant help to the House, as it relieves some of the pressure of fundraising and gives more opportunities to spend time with families using the House.

“It’s a huge help for us,” Harrison said. “It takes some of the pressure off from a staffing standpoint so we can really focus on the families. When we get those dollars, those are dollars that go directly to the family.”

The funds raised for the House are used to support families in their time of need when staying at the Ronald McDonald House. According to Harrison, 30-40% of the families that use the House come from the Columbia Basin.

“We house families whose kids are in need of medical services in Spokane,” he said. “Approximately 30-40% of families come from the Columbia Basin, from Moses Lake down to Tri-Cities, so when they come to Spokane they have a place to stay. That’s the lodging, that’s their food, that’s their transportation to and from the hospital.”

Part of what the House does is entertainment for the kids during their stay in the hospital. This includes things like having therapy dogs and other fun for the children.

“It’s everything to make sure that when families come they have a place to stay that really does feel like a home,” Harrison said.

The event brings together members of the agricultural industry to team up and support charitable causes together.

“The ag industry is tremendously generous, and it has been all of the nine years that we’ve had the Ag World Golf Classic,” Ag World Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer Melanie Finch said. “We’re very appreciative of that.”

With over 60 sponsors that ranged in donations of more than $625 to more than $3,750, the Golf Classic raised over $95,000 in the 2022 event.

“We are so excited about this event,” Ag World Ambassador and Chaplain Judy Henninger said. “It just brings this community together for such a wonderful cause.”

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