Members of District 70 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) in Wichita, Kansas, organized a charity golf tournament to raise funds for Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines (GDA | TLC). The event brought together thirty-three teams on a Saturday morning, following best-ball play rules with a limit of par per hole.
The tournament raised over $68,000 for GDA | TLC. According to the organization, it costs about $60,000 to train and raise one guide dog for someone in need.
IAM District 70 Secretary-Treasurer Teressa Peart commented on the impact of their efforts: “To know that what you are doing is helping someone’s life, helping them gain their independence, it is a wonderful feeling for us. It’s just an amazing thing”.
Dawson Hart, a military veteran who was left legally blind after an IED explosion in Iraq, shared his experience with GDA | TLC. He was paired with his first service dog ten years ago and currently relies on Bauer, his second guide dog. Hart traveled from North Carolina to Kansas with Bauer to thank participants at the tournament. He said: “Making donations is fine, but that’s not meeting somebody, that’s not shaking somebody’s hand and saying thank you for saving my life, because that’s what they do. That’s what these folks right here are doing.”
Brian Alexander, President of IAM Local 774, noted the strong interest in the event: “Within the first couple of weeks of registration for the tournament we were sold out, nothing more was left, but we kept getting calls: ‘Hey can you add my team? How can you say no? So the locals and the district worked with Mattie and her staff at Sand Creek Station Golf Course and we made a way.”
Craig Martin, IAM Southern Territory General Vice President, acknowledged both the fundraising effort and other union activities happening simultaneously: “This is a perfect way to celebrate the Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines 77th birthday. District 70 had a lot of events going on simultaneously that weekend with a major ratification vote for Bombardier members, but they still found time to give back to this important charity. Thank you to all who participated”.
The winning team finished with a score of 58—14 under par—contributing to an event aimed at supporting those who rely on service dogs.
