(Photo: Accepting a check for $19,505.41 from Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. presented by Fleet Compliance Officer Scott Burkett are (left to right) YMCA volunteers Al Lander, Jesse Kelley, Cindy Nave, Kurtis Bell, Sally Setner, Todd Glenn, and Milissa Bauer.)

“The Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. Charity Golf Outing started out 25 years ago to just to help an individual,” said Scott Burkett, GOH fleet compliance officer. “It’s grown throughout the years, and it has helped approximately 50 different organizations throughout the 25 years.  With this year’s total, it will total over $1.25 million that we have helped raise.”

The Clarion County YMCA was one of seven different beneficiaries of the outing that helped raise a total of $97,527.06. In addition to the Clarion County YMCA, the other organizations included Centre County Youth Service Bureau; Juniata Valley YMCA; Pregnancy Resource Clinic; Cub Scout Pack 352; Taproot Kitchen; and the Tioga County Branch YMCA.

“We try and pick different beneficiaries throughout the state of Pennsylvania that we work and live in and the Clarion County YMCA was chosen through the committee,” explained Burkett. “I do some other volunteer work with the Boy Scouts. and I like giving back to the community.”

The full-service Clarion County YMCA will be built near Exit 62 of I-80 and the Clarion Oaks Golf Course.

The GOH golf outing started as a simple day of fun for GOH employees and associates in 1992. The following year, fundraising was added to benefit the Ronald McDonald House, as the then controller’s son had numerous health problems, and the outing raised about $8,000.00.  The golf committee became organized over the years with hole/tee sponsors being added, which generates the most money for the selected beneficiaries. The golf committee in 2001 added a second flight because some golfers had been turned away the previous year due to the growing interest by both sponsors and golfers.

Many of the sponsorships come from GOH vendors and customers, but the more sponsorships the beneficiaries bring to the outing, the greater the financial benefit to that agency.  All monies, less expenses for the day, go directly to the agencies.  On course skills games, raffle items, skins games, scoring incentives, and other donations also help in the total money raised.

The “simple day of fun” has grown to a tournament that uses over a hundred volunteers, has hundreds of golfers all day, and gives away tens of thousands of dollars each year to help those agencies in our working areas that are making a difference in other people’s lives.

Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. is proud of its employees who tee off this tournament to help those in their communities who can use a little help in serving others.

The new Clarion County YMCA, among other facilities, will include a swimming pool that will provide lap swimming, therapy, swimming lessons and other year-round recreation activities that traditional YMCA’s provide. An official groundbreaking is expected in 2016 and completion of the project is forecast within approximately 12 to 18 months from groundbreaking.

Most of the campaign commitments are from local community businesses, families, and organizations that have made substantial donations.

As Campaign Chairs Milissa Bauer and Al Lander stated in the original press conference that launched the campaign, the success of this project will depend on everyone coming together as a team. The Community Campaign is the next step in creating a Clarion County team. It is an invitation for everyone to play a part in creating a full service Clarion County YMCA.

Another phase of the fund raising program is an application for a major grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

“We are waiting for the notification of awards from the RACP (Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program) Grant,” said Bauer and Lander. “Because the amount of a possible grant award and the state requirements for construction are unclear, we are waiting until the grant amount is determined to develop the final shape of the project, including the building design.”