Golf is a fun game on a few different levels. But it takes on more meaning, more significance when it's played with a purpose.
Lancaster Mennonite School's upcoming golf event is filled with meaning. Its purpose is to help provide affordable education options to local families.
"Believe it or not, the cost of tuition is not the true cost of education," said Aubrey Kreider, Lancaster Mennonite's director of marketing. "We rely on support to meet the gap. We want the school to be accessible and allow families an opportunity to get a great, faith-based education. We want to prepare students to be world-changers. Some families are able to pay the full amount, but many can't. We also want to be able to pay our teachers competitively and support extracurricular activities."
Lancaster Mennonite's 28th annual benefit golf outing will be conducted on Tuesday, May 14, at Meadia Heights Golf Club, 402 Golf Road, Lancaster. The event will feature a morning round that begins at 7:30 a.m. and an afternoon round that starts at 1:30 p.m., and it will include refreshments, breakfast, lunch, dinner, gifts and prizes.
"It's an important event, but it's really fun," said Kreider. "It's an opportunity for participants to be outside and do a sport they enjoy. It's beautiful. The sun's out. There's lots of food involved. It's less about being competitive and more about fun. It's just a fun atmosphere of fellowship and being together."
Up to 200 community members, company representatives and Lancaster Mennonite supporters are expected to participate. Last year, the Lancaster Mennonite benefit golf outing raised $35,500 to support the school, some of which went toward providing tuition support for designated families.
"There are a lot of businesses that sponsor the event," said Kreider. "For them, it's a great way to get out of the office, team build and support a great cause. We have alumni who will come back, and they get to meet their former teachers. It's a great opportunity for different age groups to come together."
There are currently 560 students from prekindergarten through grade 12 enrolled at Lancaster Mennonite School, and about 32% receive tuition assistance. This year's cost of tuition for Lancaster Mennonite High School students was $11,870.
The benefit golf outing is one of four fundraising events that Lancaster Mennonite conducts each year.
"They're all really important," said Kreider. "With the golf tournament, there are more businesses involved. It's one of our best opportunities to partner with sponsors. It's a great opportunity for mentoring, building community and building connections."
Located at 2176 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, Lancaster Mennonite is a Christian-based, private school that emphasizes faith, education and community. In 1996, supporters saw golf as a good vehicle to raise funds and raise awareness for the school.
"At the beginning, they would golf and come back to the school and have a picnic," said Kreider. "It was probably a little more grassroots then. It was volunteers who were running the event, and now our team is doing it. If people want to make a positive impact in the lives of kids, our future generations and leaders, this is a tangible way to do it."
For additional information about the Lancaster Mennonite benefit golf outing or to register, go to http://www.lancastermennonite.org/events/golf-2024. The deadline for entries is Monday, April 29.
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