NEWS RELEASE
NORTH SWING GOLF LOUNGE
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On Aug. 24, 2020, North Swing Golf Lounge is teaming up with The Nest at Friday Harbour to host a golf tournament and raise support for Hockey Helps the Homeless (HHTH).
HHTH is a registered charity that hosts pro-am hockey tournaments across Canada to raise awareness and financial aid for homeless shelters from coast-to-coast. Most recently, they held a tournament in Barrie where hockey players in the community raised $150,000 for the David Busby Street Centre and Redwood Park Communities.
Since mid-March, HHTH has been unable to host their tournaments as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, North Swing Golf Lounge has come up with an innovative solution to help raise funds for vulnerable members of the Barrie community.
“Given the fact that this year there it’s been impossible to do typical charity golf tournaments, we’ve found a creative way to do a smaller one with players teeing off with set tee times instead of the typical shotgun start,” Emil Kamel, owner of North Swing, said.
The socially distanced golf tournament will feature a total of 52 players competing and will see a portion of proceeds go towards Hockey Helps the Homeless, which will be granted to their local charity partners in the city. A 2021 membership giveaway as an opt-in closest to the pin contest has also been added to help with fundraising efforts for the organization.
“I think being able to find creative ways to still raise money for charity through golf during this pandemic is a good way to continue raising awareness for the vital work that is happening in our community to support the homeless,” adds Kamel. “Perhaps it will inspire others to continue to find ways to support charities before the golf season is over.”
Now, more than ever, funds for homeless and at-risk Canadians are essential.
The communal settings that characterize the homeless community puts them at a much greater risk of transmitting and contracting the virus. Without permanent housing, they are unable to effectively self-isolate, socially distance from others, or follow proper hygiene protocols. On top of that, they are predisposed to a number of different diseases and underlying health issues, making them more susceptible to the novel coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the organizations and frontline workers that serve them have been facing a number of increasing costs such as personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitation, additional staffing and higher food supply costs, all while facing a decrease in charitable giving.
“The staff at Redwood and Busby have been swamped these days,” Scott Page, Director of Operations for Hockey Helps the Homeless, said. “Every dollar just means that much more to these partners right now.”
Donations made at this time will help shelters continue to address their COVID-19 emergency needs and provide increased supports for their clients.
At Redwood Park Communities, one of HHTH’s beneficiaries in Barrie, donations will help support their Furniture Bank, which has served more households in the last four months than in their entire first seven months of operation. It will also help provide rent support for tenants in-need and extra support for those experiencing anxiety or who are unable to go into the community themselves to pick up groceries or prescriptions.
“You’ve heard many homelessness sector advocates say it recently, but it’s hard to stay home when you don't have a home. It’s hard to wash your hands frequently if you don’t have running water. It’s hard to keep staples on hand if you don’t have cupboards, or get your groceries delivered if you don’t have an address. And in a time of physical distancing, it’s hard not to become socially isolated,” Redwood’s Director of Communications, Jennifer van Gennip explained.
“While COVID certainly has its challenges and it has exposed gaps, it has also galvanized our community to address those gaps and in many ways brought folks together around the common goal of looking out for each other. We are grateful for the ongoing support of organizations in the community as we do our part to create and provide safe, affordable, hopeful housing in supportive community.”
Next up, North Swing will be setting its sights on a winter golf fundraiser in support of HHTH.
ABOUT NORTH SWING:
North Swing is Barrie's Indoor All-Season Golf Experience—offering a delicious menu, licensed lounge, and a fun environment for sports enthusiasts. With five 20 ft. widescreen golf simulators, North Swing features industry-leading technology from HD Golf™ includes over 40 well-known PGA golf courses from around the globe with unparalleled photo realism and accuracy. The entire venue is open concept and can be booked to host a variety of events with a licensed lounge and catering for corporate events, team building, and parties for holidays and other celebrations. Leagues and special events for men and women run throughout the year to offer various opportunities to benefit local charities.
ABOUT HOCKEY HELPS THE HOMELESS:
Hockey Helps the Homeless (HHTH) is a nationally registered charity that coordinates and executes pro-am charity hockey tournaments where men and women get a chance to play with hockey greats and raise funds to address the needs of the estimated 250,000 people who will experience homelessness in Canada this year. HHTH partners with homeless support agencies across Canada, so 100% of net proceeds stay local in each city the tournament visits. For more information, visit www.hhth.com.
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