Log A Load For Kids Volunteers Celebrate a Million Dollars Raised for UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital
Volunteers are preparing for the 23rd annual Tommy Usher Log A Load for Kids Golf Classic, which will be on October 19 at Chiefland Golf and Country Club. This year, event organizers are planning to celebrate the millionth dollar raised for UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Collectively, Log A Load For Kids, a group of individuals and businesses in the logging and forestry industry, have raised a total of $48 million for 58 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
What originally began as loggers and wood-suppliers donating the value of a load of logs to their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital has expanded into a variety of creative events. Ken and Lynetta Usher Griner, along with representatives of Farm Credit of Florida, Dee Dot Timberlands, N. G. Wade Investments, Inc., and Suwannee Lumber Company have been the main organizers of the annual golf event. They have also relied heavily on other friends, family, and industry partners to make it a success each and every year. Since 1994, this local group has raised over $980,000 dollars for the kids at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. The event is named in memory of Tommy Usher, who passed away in 1989 and was the youngest member of the Board of Dirrectors of the Florida Forestry Assosciation.
Lynetta Usher Griner, Tommy’s sister, has been involved in Log A Load for Kids for 23 years. “Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is important to me because of our family and friends who have been helped by our local children’s hospital,” said Griner. “Our success is due to the sponsors, golfers and volunteers who return and support our event each and every year. We offer a day of fun and fellowship with exceptional food,” said Griner. Last year’s event brought out 120 golfers.
Space is limited to only 50 teams for the golf classic. For more information on registration, please visit http://bit.ly/LaLGolf17.
“We’re so appreciative of the donations and the volunteer hours logged each year by the men and women involved with Log A Load For Kids,” said John Lauck, president and CEO of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “Their efforts have resulted in countless miracles for the 62 kids who enter a CMN Hospital every minute.”
Log A Load for Kids has raised more than $48 million for sick and injured children across North America since partnering with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in 1988. The funds raised locally through Log A Load for kids support the greatest needs of UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, including lifesaving equipment, funding for top therapy programs and providing charitable care.
For questions, media opportunities or additional information contact Clare Scheller at schec@shands.ufl.edu or 252-265-7272.