Teeing off for a cause at charity tournament

Golf tournament at Stone Creek benefits food bank, children’s center

By Ellen Spitaleri

The Oregon City News, Aug 12, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Ellen Spitaleri / Oregon City News

Tonia Hunt, executive director of the Children’s Center of Clackamas County, and left to right, Tim Nystrom and Larry and Nancy Carnahan invite golfers to play for a good cause at the John L. Scott Charity Golf Tournament on Aug. 22.

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Golfers of Clackamas County – get ready to scramble!

The second annual John L. Scott charity golf tournament tees off on Friday, Aug. 22, and participants can enjoy a round of golf while playing for a good cause – proceeds will benefit the Children’s Center of Clackamas County and the Oregon Food Bank.

Organizers of the event include Larry and Nancy Carnahan, owners and principal brokers of Oregon City’s John L. Scott Real Estate, Tim Nystrom, senior loan officer for Response Mortgage Services and Ken Riley, also a principal broker for John L. Scott.

Riley and Larry Carnahan said the organizers chose the two charities for specific reasons: both groups provide a critical service and regularly need money to continue to serve the community.

The Children’s Center of Clackamas County, located in Oregon City, is a medical evaluation center for children suspected to be victims of abuse or neglect, while the Oregon Food Bank supplies food baskets to hungry families.

“We give money to the food bank rather than collect food, and that way they can buy what they need and keep it in Oregon City,” Carnahan said.

Organizers wanted to help the center, because “we toured the Children’s Center and went over what they do and what they need,” Riley said, adding that the organization regularly does not have enough money in the budget to serve all the children who come to them for services.

“It is sad we have to have something like this [for abused and neglected children], but the work they do is critical. The more people who know about them the better,” Carnahan added.

He also noted that the center needs a special digital camera that costs $10,000, so tournament organizers are hoping to raise enough money to help purchase that.

The camera is called a “colposcope,” noted Tonia Hunt, executive director of the Children’s Center.

“It is a tool we use in examinations to document signs of abuse. Right now we use a 35 millimeter camera and we want to upgrade to a digital camera,” she added.

“Since we are a private, non-profit, we rely on community support [in order to] see children who are the victims of abuse. It is always a struggle to meet the demand once school gets back in, as children use the safe setting of school to report the abuse.

“Once children settle in [to school], the reports flood in; we are busy in the fall and it strains our resources. This is a very needed service for these children, and John L. Scott has been a great supporter – and golfing is a fun way to support the cause,” Hunt said.

Riley and Carnahan noted that the event will include more than a traditional round of golf.

“There will be some fun things, like beat the pro, and there will be a putting contest where one golfer chips the ball outside the green, one putts, one kicks it and one throws it,” he said.

Nancy Carnahan noted that golfers will form teams of four and will play in a scramble format, and “there will be prizes for the longest drive, the lowest score and first, second and third in the team competition.”

Riley said there will also be a hole-in-one contests, with prizes offered, including a car from Wilsonville Honda, which is owned by Parker Johnstone, a former Indy Car driver.

“He’s a great guy and a community supporter,” Riley said, noting that Johnstone will not be able to play in the event as he recently injured his rotator cuff.

The event also includes an awards ceremony, buffet dinner and silent auction that will feature family packages and an autographed basketball from the Portland Trailblazers.

Larry Carnahan noted that many local businesses have donated items to the silent auction, including Danielson’s, Shari’s, Build a Bear and the newly opened restaurant Oregon City Grill.

Riley said that last year’s tournament netted nearly $9,000, and he and Larry Carnahan hope to “do better” this year, “to make up for the [falling] economy.”

They would love to have at least 72 golfers participate, and can accommodate up to 144, Riley said, noting that participants are encouraged to register as soon as possible for the Aug. 22 event.

“We get so much from the community, we want to give back and invite everyone out to a great day in the sun,” Carnahan said.

Riley added, “And if you get a hole in one, you can win a new car.”

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