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Golf balls from heaven help kids

Carolyn Pope
Bettan Laughlin, Priscilla ONeill, Kathie Stephenson, Susan Milhoan
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WOLCOTT The weather didnt look promising as the Re/Max balloon lifted from the ground at Red Sky Ranch.

Weather wasnt a factor, however, in the way the 700 golf balls plummeted from the balloon to the green fifty feet below. Three balls plunked into the hole, which meant the pot of around $18,000 was split between three winners. The real winners of the Golf Balls from Heaven and the second annual First Tee of Eagle County Youth Foundation Golf Tournament are the kids who benefit from the programs of The Youth Foundation.The events title sponsors included The Gallegos Corporation, Ginn Clubs and Resorts, Red Sky Golf Club, the Vail Daily and Vail Resorts Development Company. The Cindy Callaway Foundation came in as an event sponsor. Susan Milhoan chaired the events, which also included a kick-off dinner the night before the tournament.Ably headed up by Susie Davis, The Youth Foundation has been around for almost 10 years helping kids from slipping through the cracks by providing and supporting programs that serve economically disadvantaged youth from preschool through college. Services include the bookmobile, after-school access to computer labs for kids and their parents, and an academic soccer program during the school year. Summer programs are also available, including The First Tee program.The First Tee is about a lot more than golf, said Cindy Hosman of The Youth Foundation. Yes, the kids learn to play golf. But its really about respect, courtesy and honesty. Its also about the core values of golf sportsmanship, integrity and discipline.The First Tee, an initiative of the World Golf Foundation geared towards kids age 8 to 18, does just that it focuses on giving young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship. Its those life skills that separate The First Tee from other junior golf programs, demonstrating to the kids how the values in golf can be transferred into other aspects of their lives. There are a number of ways to donate to The First Tee of Eagle County and whether your gift is financial or material, it is certain to touch the lives of hundreds of young people involved. If you are interested in donating or would like more information on The Youth Foundation, call 970-926-8905 or visit their Web site at http://www.theyouthfoundation.org.

The RE/MAX team with their famous balloon



Gerald Gallegos, Susan Milhoan, Cindy Hosman and Susie Davis determine the golf ball-drop winners.

Steve Coyer, Chupa, Michael Walter, Richard DeClark, Jim Fay.

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Michael Thompson, Mike Stepanek, Jeff Boyer and Dave Terbush Low gross winners.”

First-place low-net women: Valerie Weber, Cindy Callaway, Lissa Tyler, Jan Coulson.

Larry Coates, Marka Brenner, Hayden Scott and Tamara Cartmill celebrate their low-net mixed team win.

The winning balls belonged to John Bakalar, The Berkeley Group and John Gart.Vail Daily, Vail, Colorado


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