LAKE ORION, Mich. – On Monday, July 22, 2024, the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce hosted their ninth annual Golf Outing fundraiser at the Paint Creek Golf Course.
Photo by ONTV
The sold-out event drew in dozens of businesses, as well as community leaders to the green in order to raise funds for the Chamber.
ONTV spoke to the President and CEO of the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce, Joyce Donaldson, about the event and what local businesses’ continued support for the Chamber through these types of events means.
“We’re all out here today to raise funds for the Chamber and everyone is just having a great time,” Donaldson said. “Everybody is just happy to be, y’know… out on the golf course instead of in the office.”
41 different businesses headed out on the course on the day of the event in a scramble-start, but over 250 different businesses helped make this event possible.
Photo by ONTV
“We try to raise funds just basically to keep the Chamber doors open,” Donaldson said. “It helps fill our budget, but I think more than anything it just promotes camaraderie.”
Those who participated in the fundraiser that day were guests to a special breakfast feast – including drinks like Mimosas and Bloody Marys – as well as a bratwurst-filled lunch.
Businesses also had to opportunity to sponsor certain holes in order to promote themselves and maybe even give out prizes to golfers.
“The Chamber is awesome to work with they do a lot of great things in the community,” Drake Falconer, a representative for Union Home Mortgage in Rochester, Mich. said. “Everything that we have done with the chamber has gone off without a hitch, they always do something great, so we’re just happy to be here and be a part of the event today.”
Those who participated in the golf outing and helped raise funds for the Chamber that day had the chance to win prizes via a raffle. For those who golfed well enough and had the best score, they were given a trophy and declared champions for the day.
Photo by ONTV
The winners of this honor were Township Supervisor Chris Barnett, Dan Kelly, Sam Ashley and Jim Stevens. The ceremony was held during a dinner where all of the guests, sponsors and golfers gathered.
Overall, the Chambers Golf Outing was a successful event that not only helped raise funds for an important tenant in the community, but it also brought businesses, leaders, and residents alike together.