If you could send a message to a disease, ours would be this: “Look out, ALS. We’re coming after you.” Since 2001, a group of dedicated Sundt employees and the Sundt Foundation together have raised nearly $1 million to help find a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
ALS claimed the life of one of Sundt’s longtime employees, Mike Gaines, in 2002. Before he died, Mike and the Sundt Foundation worked together to establish the Mike Gaines Charitable Fundraising Events to help eradicate this terrible disease and preserve his memory. The annual events—a trap shoot in Tucson and golf tournaments in Tucson, Phoenix, San Diego, Sacramento, and San Antonio—raise money for the local Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) chapter in each location to be used for ALS research.
The events were a huge success in 2011, raising more money than in any of the previous years with a total of $162,387. “It helps to have so many generous subcontractors, vendors, and other golfers who come back year after year,” said Aly Gartin, a Sundt employee who helps coordinate the events. Aly worked with Mike Gaines for many years and counted him among her close friends. She added, “We have been blessed to be a beneficiary of the Powers Foundation, which has donated $25,000 to the Phoenix tournament for the past few years in honor of their employee, John Walsh, whose wife has ALS.”
We expect to cross the $1 million mark with the 2012 tournaments, which will be a great honor for Mike’s family and everyone affected by ALS. Feel free to join us for a day of fun and fundraising!
2012 Tournament Dates:
Tucson – March 23, 2012
Phoenix – April 13, 2012
Sacramento – May 4, 2012
San Diego – June 15, 2012
San Antonio – October 12, 2012