Local charity chosen for Avista golf tourney

The 10th annual Avista Charity Golf Scramble will be held August 18 at the Rivers Bend Golf Course in Thompson Falls. This year Avista will be honoring the Western Montana Mental Health Center (WMMHC).

“Avista has been amazing to work with and we are ecstatic that they chose us,” said Abby Harnett, Executive Director of WMMHC. To be considered for the scramble, organizations must submit an application that outlines what their contributions to the community are and where the money will be going that is donated. The scramble is a very popular event with calls flooding in as soon as word gets out each year.

“It only took about two or three days for all 18 (team) spots to fill up,” said Harnett.

There will be a silent auction for prizes as well as raffle tickets sold for larger items, including a 7-night stay at the Pend Oreille Shores Resort. WMMHC has received various cash donations as well. Harnett commented that “the generosity of the businesses and community members has been very encouraging.”

For the silent auction items there have been prizes donated from all over including a basket from the Seattle Mariners that includes baseball tickets with terrace-level seating. Harley Davidson in Missoula donated a basket as well as numerous other businesses from around the county.

“The prizes for the silent auction keep coming in every day,” Harnett said, adding that they are still expecting quite a few more as the days lead up to the scramble. You can place bids online for the items at the WMMHC auction website at http://www.32auctions.com/wmmhc2018 starting on August 6 and going until the day of the scramble on August 18.

The money from the scramble will directly benefit the clients WMMHC has throughout the county.

“No money with leave the county,” said Harnett, explaining that WMMHC has experienced budget cuts from the state so the money will be very beneficial to help the areas that were greatly affected, such as out-patient care and medication. WMMHC would also like to put the money toward different programs for the youth of the community to get everyone involved and promote positive mental health. Harnett also added that community members are encouraged to come out to the scramble even if they don’t wish to golf. “We want to involve the whole community that has given the WMMHC so much support.”

WMMHC will be selling raffle tickets at Harvest Foods in Thompson Falls on August 2 and 3. The raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20.