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Matt Haynes Memorial Golf Tournament Raises $1,000 for Angel Fund
The plan was Mercy Flight would fly over the golf course at 8 a.m. to kickoff the 3rd annual Matt Haynes Memorial Golf Tournament, held June 12 at Anaconda Hills. However, Mother Nature has a mind of her own, so it didn’t work out exactly that way.
“We had a frost delay, so we were just standing there when they flew over,” said Jim Haynes, who organizes the tournament held in memory of his son. “It was still pretty cool – still a rush.”
Jim and his wife Cheryl in 2008 started the Matt Haynes Memorial Endowment to benefit the Angel Fund, and they decided to hold an annual golf tournament as a way to raise money for the endowment. This year they were able to contribute more than $1,000 to the endowment, which is more than they’ve given in past years.
Jim and Cheryl’s son, Matt, died in 2000 in a terrible car crash that involved a drunk driver. Matt was only 18 years old. So they wanted to do something in Matt’s name, something that would last forever.
“We decided to see just how hard it is to run a golf tournament,” he said. “We chose the Angel Fund to receive the proceeds because it helps kids, and it benefits people in surrounding areas as well as Great Falls.”
The Angel Fund is designed to help Montana families who have children with serious illnesses. The fund, administered by Benefis Healthcare Foundation, assists these families by helping them with a variety of expenses, such as travel and lodging costs when they have to travel away from Northcentral Montana in order for their child to receive treatment.
Jim and Cheryl opted to raise an endowment to support the Angel Fund because the money creates a forever fund that is never spent. However, the earnings support the chosen cause – in this case the Angel Fund – from the time the fund is set up until far into the future, honoring the memory of the loved one every time a portion of the fund’s balance is paid out.
The first couple of years, Jim held their golf tournament at Emerald Greens Golf Club. This year he moved it to Anaconda Hills. Seventy-eight players, ranging from 12 to 78 years old, showed up for the four-person scramble. After the tournament, the golfers headed over to the 406 Club for live music and a pig roast. Jim said the event was a great success.
In future years, Jim said he’s hoping to expand the tournament and possibly hold a second one in a smaller community. He enjoys putting time and energy into organizing a memorial event for his son, he feels good about supporting the Angel Fund, and he loves to play golf.
“After Matt passed away, I decided that life was too short and that I spent a lot of time working when I should have been spending time with my son,” said Jim. “I never did anything, never had a hobby; I just worked. Now I play golf, and it's become my obsession.”
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