Source: The Foundation for Safer Athletic Fields
LAWRENCE, Kan. - The Foundation for Safer Athletic Fields for Everyone (SAFE), the charitable arm of the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA), raised more than $25,000 for scholarships, grants, and the production of educational materials during the 2011 STMA Conference and Exhibition held in Austin, Texas, Jan. 11-15, 2011. These monies were raised through many events including a golf tournament, raffles, and auctions held throughout the conference.
Nearly 80 golfers competed in the Eleventh Annual SAFE Jacobsen Golf Tournament held at the Golf Club at Star Ranch. Those golfers and more than 25 pre-registered players who could not make it to Austin because of inclement weather around the country donated nearly $14,000 to SAFE. The net-scramble style tournament was won by the team of Russell Barksdale, Randall Carpenter, Chris Price and Allen Reed. The signature course provided players with a challenging, but fair, test of their skills. The SAFE Jacobsen Golf Tournament would not be possible without the generous contributions of Jacobsen, a Textron Company. Since it began sponsoring the tournament, Jacobsen has raised more than $158,000 for SAFE and contributed to countless memories for STMA golfers each year.
Due to Texas state gaming laws, SAFE was not able to continue the Pull-Tab Lottery Style Game. These tickets were tremendously popular with attendees in 2010 in Disney. However, in typical STMA Member fashion, attendees stepped up and ensured that the SAFE Auctions and Raffles conducted in the Exhibition Hall and at the Awards Banquet Reception on Friday brought in a record amount. Winners walked away with some amazing autographed memorabilia, apparel, a Toro Turf Guard System valued at $7,800, electronics, hotel packages, golf gear, sports turf specific equipment, and an African photo safari valued at more than $4,000! The Large Item Raffle held at the Awards Banquet Reception was a success as well, raising more than $1,800. A Panasonic HD Camcorder, Amazon Kindle and Gift Package, Sony CyberShot Camera and an all-inclusive trip to next year's conference in Long Beach were all given away to lucky winners.
About SAFE: The SAFE Foundation is the charitable arm of STMA. Its mission is to enrich communities through championing safe, sustainable sports and recreation fields for all athletes. As a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation, it also provides scholarships and funds education to help sports turf managers with the challenges they face in managing athletic fields.
About STMA: STMA is the not-for-profit, professional association for the men and women who manage sports fields. Since 1981, the association and its dozens of local chapters have been providing education, information and sharing practical knowledge in the art and science of sports field management. Its more than 2,500 members oversee sports fields and facilities at schools, colleges and universities, parks and recreational facilities, and professional sports stadiums worldwide.
