Mapletown students donate $1,000 to hurricane relief fund
FARMINGTON – Students from Mapletown High School dropped an envelope containing $1,000 into an oversized golf ball on display at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa in support of the U.S. Golf Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, which is eventually expected to raise $5 million for relief efforts. The 84 Lumber Classic is supporting the fund drive by collecting donations during the PGA Tour from spectators, volunteers and staff. In addition, PGA Tour officials are also asking all players in the tournament to donate a portion, or all of their winnings from the tournament, to the relief fund.
Maggie Hardy Magerko, president and owner of the resort and 84 Lumber, has said she will personally match all of the donations that are collected during the tournament up to $500,000.
In addition, Hardy Magerko said she will also donate an additional amount equal to half of the winnings earned by defending 84 Lumber Classic champion Vijay Singh and John Daly, who are both sponsored by 84 Lumber.
Hardy Magerko said several 84 Lumber employees were affected by the hurricane.
“We have several stores in the affected Gulf Coast region and hundreds of associates whose lives were significantly impacted. Our first order of business was to take care of our associates and their families with shelter, food, clothing and other basic necessities and to get our stores open,” she said. “Now, we want to turn our attention to raising significant funds to assist all of those affected by this unprecedented disaster.”
The 46 students who organized the fund-raiser at Mapletown High School are involved in PULSE, a club that teaches students effective leadership skills, said coordinator Kathy Chafin.
She said the students raised money for the relief fund by having penny wars during homeroom.
“The response from the all the students was overwhelming,” Chafin said.
Senior Natalie Hanlan, who is a PULSE member, said she and her fellow students wanted to do something to raise money for those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
“We wanted to do something to raise money, and here our donation is being matched,” she said.
Phil Mickelson, who has four wins this season on the PGA Tour, including the PGA Championship, has pledged his earnings from the 84 Lumber Classic or $250,000, which ever is greater.
He also said he plans to appear in public service announcements on behalf of the fund.
“The devastation left by Katrina is unimaginable,” Mickelson said. “Thousands of families in the Gulf Coast area will never be the same. The tsunami relief efforts of Presidents Bush and Clinton last year did so much to aid Asian countries, and my wife, Amy, and I want to do what we can to help achieve far greater success in this campaign. Just having our hearts go out to these victims wasn’t nearly enough.”