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C.H. Robinson Golf Tournament for Cystinosis
Pam and Tahnie Woodward with Frankie and Laura McGinnis
By Tim Miller and Pam Woodward
On Sept. 8, about 25 C.H. Robinson employees from CHRW-Salt Lake City, Southwest Produce Division, Savannah, Los Angeles International branches, and National Accounts along with Mijken Cassidy from Kofford Trucking, Scott Tucker from Rocky Mt Music, Rory Boyer, Frankie and Laura McGinnis, and Rock, Pam and Tahnie Woodward golfed or volunteered for a charity golf event. It was held at the beautiful Johnny Miller signature course at Thanksgiving Point located in Lehi, Utah. They raised over $27,000, all of which will go to The Cystinosis Research Network.
Why Cystinosis research? Manager Tim Miller of the Salt Lake City Branch explains. “Last year the office held a golf outing that was free to our customers. We had about 90 customers show up, and it was a great time. At the end of that event, I felt that the branch should find a charity to support and raise some money. So we did some research, had the employees submit nominations, and held a meeting to review the top three charities. One of the charities was Cystinosis. Liz Swenson from the Salt Lake City branch has worked with Kofford Trucking for many years and is friends with Pam (Kofford) Woodward from Kofford Trucking. Pam’s daughter Tahnie has Cystinosis.”
“While we considered larger or more popular charities, the office felt the money we would raise for Cystinosis would go a long way towards helping the 2,000 children and young adults with the genetic disorder. Because there are so few people with Cystinosis, it is considered an “orphan disease” and pharmaceutical companies don’t do research or develop medicines for the disease. The Cystinosis Research Network has doctors that are researching for them. All money raised goes directly to the Charity as it is a non-profit organization and all board members are volunteers, who have a child, grandchild or Cystinosis themselves.”
A total of 146 golfers participated, including customers. The winning foursome from Tread Systems, which shares the same building as the Salt Lake City branch, received 4 tickets each to a Utah Jazz game of their choice and $100 gift certificates to the Thanksgiving Point Pro Shop. Second place winners, which included Scott Tucker from Rocky Mt Music each received one foursome to the Thanksgiving Point Golf Course and $50 in gift certificates. Third place won C.H. Robinson duffle bags filled with shirts, hats, sweatshirts, a pocket knife, sunglasses, and more.
There was also a raffle which included numerous prizes donated by customers, local merchants and Cystinosis families. So there were lots of winners besides just those that golfed well.
Tim Miller reflected, “As I drove home after the event and added in my head what I thought we had collected in entry fees, donations and sales of Mulligan’s, Red Vine licorice, Pay the Pro, Better you Ball, and Your Final Resting Place fees, I could not stop smiling. I had to call Pam and let her know that I figured we had made about $27,000 for the charity. She was speechless. She had figured we’d make about $5000. When I got home I kissed the wife and told her, ‘We did a good thing today.’”
Pam would like to thank all of the C.H. Robinson employees who volunteered their time for the golf tournament. Tim Miller the Utah branch manager and especially Alicia Martinez-Madsen and Liz Swenson who worked countless hours getting all the donations and the golfers lined up. C.H. Robinson plans on doing it all over again next year. So all you golfers mark your calendars and come to Utah on September 6, 2008. |
