Photo provided
Titanium, platinum, gold and silver level sponsors present the funds raised through Monday’s Kids Golf Classic to Ben Shuman, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg. Pictured Left to Right: Chad Mildren (United Bank / Kids Golf Classic Tournament Chair); Michael and Robert Vanni (Family Carpet One); Tres Ross (The Ross Foundation); Adam Reynolds (Chapman Printing Company); Mary Anne Ketelsen; Ben Shuman (Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg); Charlie Taylor (UCCI); Richard Adams (Chairman of the Board and CEO of United Bankshares, Inc.); Ken Wilkinson (CAS Cable) and Ryan Kent (Bowles Rice).

VIENNA — Originally scheduled for the first Monday in June, the 24th annual Kids Golf Classic fundraiser for the Parkersburg Boys & Girls Club was held under bright blue skies Monday afternoon at the Parkersburg Country Club.

Starting the event in 1997, the fundraiser brought in a tournament record $250,275 for the club, $40,000 more compared to last year under normal circumstances.

Being part of his eighth classic, the club’s executive director Ben Shuman is grateful that United Bank and other sponsors were able to still support the classic with record-breaking numbers for the club.

The guaranteed funds raised by the classic gives Shuman and the club an idea of what needs to be done for that year.

“We are thrilled to have United Bank supporting the classic this year. This year has been obviously a challenge on multiple different levels, from the impact in the community for businesses that they may not have the capability of supporting organizations like ourselves. The fact that United Bank is still able to pull off this event and give us some certainty in this time of uncertainty is tremendous to the organization,” Shuman said. “Many of our members face numerous challenges in their lives, so it’s important that we continue to be a constant for them. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on our members, so this year more than ever, this event is a true gift for all. Without it, their home-away-from-home would not be here for them.”

Closing their doors when Wood County schools shut down in March, the club was still able to help members in need by giving food and other items to those without transportation and keeping in touch via video technology.

After many months of no members and getting the rooms ready under CDC guidelines, the club saw more than 200 members come back when doors reopened in June.

Instead of doing the programs they usually do in the summer, the club was more focused on academic programs to help members learn what they lost due to the shut down.

As the first day of school in Wood County approaches in the coming weeks and with the color code that determines how many students are allowed to return on certain days, Shuman said they will work within those guidelines to help members the best they can during the school year.

“Our summer programs have been very much academically focused and trying to ensure that they are ready academically for the new year when schools can open back up. To help support that, we actually extended our summer programs an additional three weeks beyond what we would normally offer, due to the schools being pulled back three additional weeks. So we’re looking at any possibility we can to help our families and help support the youth in our community to get the things that they need.”

United Bank underwrites the cost of the tournament, so that 100% of the funds raised by entry fees, sponsorships and donations directly benefit the club.

Chad Mildren, chairman of the tournament and chief consumer banking officer of United Bank, presented the check to the Boys and Girls Club as well as John Raisten, Chuck Hughes and Robert Vanni. Mildren, Raisten, Hughes and Vanni teamed up to win group A with a score of 58.

“Despite current events, it was a record-breaking year for the Kids Golf Classic. For the 24th year, I am amazed at the tremendous support our local community provides to the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg and the local children it serves,” said Mildren. “The club fills an important need for many children in our community by providing a safe environment after school and during the summer, free meals, homework help, recreational activities and educational programs. And as you can see, they adapt quickly to present these opportunities and programs no matter the circumstances. The funds raised from this tournament are integral to the continuation of these resources being available. We’d like to thank the people and businesses who have supported the event today, Ben and the staff at the Boys and Girls Club for making a difference in our community, and the kids of the Club who make the decision each day to spend their time in a positive environment whether at the Club or participating in activities outside of it.”

Brian West, Andy Feeny, Rich Wilbur and Bob Gillam won group B, and coming in first in group C were Adam Reynolds, Nate Henderson, Justin Carpenter and Mike Deem. In total, 108 golfers and 27 teams participated in the event.

The Kids Golf Classic also honored two members who passed away within the last year: Chuck Roberts, a former Sr. Vice President at United, was the one who first brought up the idea of helping the club in 1996; and Smoot Fahlgren one of the founding sponsors.

The 2020 Kids Golf Classic was sponsored by 98 local businesses and community members. Mary Anne and Doug Ketelsen were the sole titanium level sponsor, donating $60,000.

Platinum level sponsors, giving $10,000 or more, included: CAS Cable, Mary Riccobene, Reagle & Padden, The Ross Foundation, Tri-State Roofing & Sheet Metal Company, United Bank and United Construction Company – Murray Sheet Metal. Gold level sponsors, giving $5,000 or more, include: Bowles Rice, Chapman Printing Company, Family Carpet, FIS, Highmark West Virginia, Richard Adams and WVU Medicine – Camden Clark Medical Center. Silver level sponsors, giving $1,000 or more, include local businesses and community members. Additionally, 42 hole sponsors contributed $300 each.