Ohlone College runs 11 athletics sports programs, five men’s and six women’s teams. Each team requires training facilities, transportation and equipment to help them reach their greatest potential.
On Monday, March 23, Ohlone Athletics, in partnership with the Ohlone Foundation, is hosting their annual fundraiser, the 35th Ohlone College Golf Tournament at Wente Vineyards’ golf course in Livermore.
Chris Warden, dean of the Department of Kinesiology, Athletics and Performing Arts, shares this year’s fundraising goal is to raise $50,000 and explains how the funds help the athletic department in multiple ways. “It’s for right-away use, it’s future use and then it’s also endowment use. So, it’s a combination, all depending on where the need is for the year,” said Warden.
In the past, “right-away use” included transportation and accommodations for the Ohlone baseball team when their season continued past regular scheduled games into the championships. While future use can be anything from new uniforms to scoreboard repairs.
Aside from the money that is being raised, the tournament’s banquet is a large part of the event.
“Every year when we have the banquet we honor two students of the prior year,” said Warden. “At the end of the spring semester, I ask for nominations for student-athletes that would represent our college and the department. Then we go through a voting process and chose one female and one male from that academic year.”
Along with the recognition, the athletes are given a $500 scholarship to help them as they transfer out of Ohlone College to the next chapter of their education.
With the fundraiser’s long history it’s an opportunity for not only student-athletes, but the Ohlone College community, to come together.
“It brings together our coaches, our staff and even our Ohlone at-large staff because they come out and volunteer,” said Warden. “It takes a village with this kind of event. So we get to come together as that village and provide opportunities for our community to enjoy golf and enjoy the reception.”
Tournament registration deadline is Monday, March 9 at ohlonefoundation.org.
