United Way of Calvert County’s official fundraising campaign season doesn’t kick off until September, but the organization’s second annual Golf Classic at Twin Shields Golf Club on Aug.19 got the ball rolling by netting over $10,000 for its Community Impact Fund.  Local businesses SMECO, PNC Bank, Constellation Energy Nuclear Group and King Electric made a strong showing of community support as major event sponsors.

To put this fundraising achievement into perspective, United Way President and CE0 Kelly Chambers breaks it down. “Ten thousand dollars awarded through our Education Impact Grants annually amounts to 20 underserved middle school youth equipped with the knowledge and skills to prepare for college, 8 abused children receiving intensive therapy to overcome their trauma, and 3 at-risk families empowered to be their child’s best teacher through weekly literacy instruction with their children.” “The fact that we can change the lives of more than 30 people with a lively round of golf is just one of the reasons our Golf Classic is so important,” said Chambers.

The United Way of Calvert County (UWCC) Golf Classic kicked off with a rousing speech and tribute to sponsors from event chair and United Way board chair Tom Hejl.

Hejl and fellow committee members Chris Moore of ReMax One, Clif Bridegum of Your Digital Salesman, Jenny Barrett of M&T Bank, Beverly Brown of Hilton Garden Inn, and Karen Shields Keen of Twin Shields Golf Club, helped to secure 32 sponsorships from generous local businesses and 18 teams.

In its sophomore year the UWCC Golf Classic gave golfers a healthy start to the day’s activities with a breakfast of fresh fruit and homemade treats courtesy of Hilton Garden Inn followed by a power bar from interactive sponsor S.J. Johnson Propane & Fuel. The event brought a few surprises too, not the least of which was a giant blow up cow, which when struck by the golf ball resulted in free sandwiches for a year from Chick Fil A in Edgewater. SMECO Board Member, Danny Dyer, and United Way Board Member, Steve Jones, struck sandwich gold when they hit the cow with just one swing of the club. Throughout the course were other chances to win great prizes like gift certificates from Sneade’s Ace Hardware, Solomons Island Tiki Bar, Twin Shields Pro Shop and the definitive gold pot at the end of the rainbow—a new Toyota Camry from Bayside Auto Group for a hole in one, which one golfer missed by a mere 20 inches.

After a summer barbeque lunch from Maryland Country Caterers, participants tried their luck at door prizes and competed in a live auction for a Solomons Getaway package from Hilton Garden Inn and a signature massage from Jacqueline Morgan Day Spa. Afterwards, special recognition and prizes were awarded to this year’s team winners: Community Bank of Tri-County in first place, King Electric featuring Huntingtown High Sc