Sixth annual charity tournament August 21 also features clinic led by Miller
EAGLE, Idaho — Hall of Fame golfer and current NBC Sports golf analyst Johnny Miller headlines the Regence Caring Foundation for Children charity golf event August 21 at BanBury Golf Club.
By hosting the tournament, the Caring Foundation is continuing its mission of assisting uninsured Idaho children. All net proceeds of the sixth annual tournament and clinic will go toward providing critical dental care services for those less fortunate.
And while participants are helping children, they also have a chance to win a Lexus automobile from Peterson Lexus in the tournament’s hole-in-one contest.
The event begins with registration at 7 a.m. at the club. A golf clinic conducted by Miller follows at 8 a.m., and the shotgun start of the tournament is at 9 a.m. To register for the event, which is limited to the first 144 players, call (208) 395-7741.
“Poor oral health among children is a serious health problem which is why we’re continuing to increase our efforts in education and outreach,” said Kathy Ellis, Idaho director of the Foundation, which provides free, comprehensive oral health care to uninsured children. “We’re partnering with dentists, schools, health departments and other community members to treat children and educate them about oral health problems early before they lead to more serious health problems.”
Ellis cited weight loss, school absenteeism, speech impediments and costly emergency room visits as some of the issues that can arise if oral health problems are left untreated.
The Foundation has conducted oral health clinics in elementary schools reaching thousands of children throughout Idaho. At those clinics, children receive exams, sealants, fluoride treatments and educational materials about proper oral health care.
“The work of the Foundation helps fill some of the needs of the uninsured and underinsured members of our communities, and that is why our partnerships are so valuable,” Ellis said. “It’s important that children have a chance to smile so all net proceeds from this event will help us continue to provide oral health care services to underprivileged Idaho children.”
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, poor oral health has reached epidemic proportions among low-income children nationwide, and research indicates Idaho children are no exception. The Foundation’s program helps children achieve complete oral health (up to a maximum of $1,000 per child per calendar year) through a full array of benefits, including preventive and restorative care.
Individuals can register for the tournament and clinic for $250, and teams of four can enter for $1,000. Aside from the clinic prior to the tournament, registration includes green fees, use of a cart, barbecue lunch, beverages and prizes. Prizes will be awarded to winning teams and also for men’s and women’s longest drive and men’s and women’s closest to the pin.
Miller, NBC television’s popular lead golf analyst for the past 17 years, is attending the event for the fourth year. He won a total of 24 PGA titles and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. He has also designed many award-winning golf courses and writes a monthly column for Golf Digest. In addition to being a course designer, Miller also is an Emmy-nominated writer who has penned the titles I Call the Shots and Breaking 90 with Johnny Miller.
Among Miller’s 24 tour wins include the 1973 U.S. Open and the 1976 British Open. In the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont, Pa., Miller shot a record final-round 63, which was voted the greatest single round of the 20th century in conjunction with golf’s centennial celebration in 1996.
About the Regence Caring Foundation for Children
The Regence Caring Foundation for Children is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization sponsored and administered by Regence BlueShield of Idaho. Regence continues its proud tradition of donating all of the Regence Caring Foundation for Children’s general administrative expenses, allowing 100 percent of profits from fundraising events and other donations to provide free dental care services to children. The Foundation provides services to low-income children in Idaho whose families cannot afford private coverage and receive no government assistance. The dental care provided helps children avoid problems stemming from untreated oral disease, including school absenteeism, needless weight loss, unnecessary and costly emergency room visits and life-threatening infections. For further information, please contact Kathy Ellis, Idaho director, at (208) 395-7741. You may also visit our Web site at: www.caringfoundationforchildren.org.