BURNET — A fundraiser to benefit the Seton Kids Care-a-Van raised an estimated $200,000, up slightly from last year's net of $196,000, said organizers of the annual benefit.
A tailgate party Aug. 5 and a tournament Aug. 6 marked the highlights of the 8th Annual Emory Bellard-Spike Dykes Seton Kids Care-a-Van Golf Classic.
"Every year I think it can't top the previous year," said Becky Fox, who is the Seton Fund director of development at Seton Highland Lakes Hospital. "This year has topped every year."
The title is a reference to Bellard, the late Texas A&M University football coach and inventor of the wishbone offense who died Feb. 10, and Dykes, a former Texas Tech University coach. Bellard attended the tournament for years and Dykes is still coming.
Tailgate attendance was 682, while the tournament at the Delaware Springs Municipal Golf Course drew 244 players, officials said.
The estimated net from the weekend is $200,000, or about $4,000 more than than the 2010 tournament, sponsors said.
"In this economy, we're really grateful," Fox said. "What a great community we have."
The event welcomed a new special guest, former Texas A&M football coach Jackie Sherrill. He came for the first time, joining R.C. Slocum, the man who replaced him as the Aggies head coach in 1989.
Legendary University of Texas coach Darrell K. Royal also put in an appearance.
This marked the first classic since Bellard died.
"This is near and dear to my heart," Dykes said. "Coach Bellard got me interested in doing this. And after seeing what it did, I went to see the Care-a-Van in operation, and it just makes your heart stop. What they do is so, so warming to you. It's the only medical (care) that some people have, and it helps kids."
To date, the classic has raised more than $1.4 million, officials said.
The van is a great resource for the community, Dykes said.
"What's a better investment than young people?" he added. "I think it's one of the greatest things that I have ever seen. I guarantee you it's one of the greatest things I've ever been a part of."
The Seton Kids Care-a-Van is a recreational motor vehicle that has exam rooms and an immunization area specifically designed for children, officials said.
Health-care services are provided to underserved and uninsured children in Burnet and Llano counties, including visits once a week to Kingsland, Granite Shoals, Marble Falls, Bertram and Burnet, they added.
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