Seton Kids Care-a-Van golf fundraiser in 10th year
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
BURNET — Spots remain available to participate in the Emory Bellard-Spike Dykes Kids Care-a-Van Tailgate Party and Golf Tournament on Aug. 2-3.
The event is the fundraiser for the Seton Kids Care-a-Van, a mobile unit that travels to Burnet and Llano counties with visits once a week to Kingsland, Granite Shoals, Marble Falls, Bertram and Burnet schools to provide medical services to children.
Ninety percent of the money raised will go toward operations with 10 percent going toward the Children’s Healthcare Endowment for Seton Highland Lakes Hospital.
“It’s always an amazing amount of kids who have needs,” said Becky Fox, Seton Fund director of development. “There are a lot of people — we call them the working poor — who can’t afford health-care insurance for kids. And gas is expensive.”
So the Care-a-Van makes it easy for children to get the care by going to different school campuses each week.[box]IF YOU GO
WHAT: Emory Bellard-Spike Dykes Kids Care-a-Van Tailgate Party and Golf Tournament
WHERE AND WHEN: Tailgate party is 6 p.m. Aug. 2 at Galloway-Hammond Recreation Center, 1601 U.S. 281 South in Burnet. Golf tournament is 1:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at Delaware Springs Municipal Golf Course, 600 Delaware Springs Blvd. in Burnet.
COST: $40 per person to attend the tailgate party only; $125 per golfer or $500 for four-person team[/box]
The tailgate party is 6 p.m. Aug. 2 at Galloway-Hammond Recreation Center, 1601 U.S. 281 South. A table-decorating contest with a rock ’n’ roll theme and silent and live auctions are part of the party. The cost is $320 for a table of eight or $40 per person to attend the party only.
The golf tournament is 1:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at Delaware Springs Municipal Golf Course, 600 Delaware Springs Blvd. The format is a four-player scramble that costs $500 for four or $125 per golfer in the afternoon session. That price includes 18 holes, snacks and meals. During the awards ceremony, homemade ice cream will be available.
This year is the 10th anniversary of the fundraiser. Legendary football coaches Spike Dykes of Texas Tech University and Emory Bellard of Texas A&M University became involved with the fundraiser after seeing the number of students receiving health-care services from the Care-a-Van.
Over the years, they called upon other friends in the coaching profession to join them in helping those children including former Texas A&M football coaches Jackie Sherrill and R.C. Slocum and Texas coaches Darrell K. Royal, who died in 2012, and Jody Conradt.
Bellard died in 2011. But his wife, Susan, and Dykes are still involved, Fox said.
Since the Care-a-Van’s creation, it has helped 18,000 children, Fox said. And it does more than provide immunizations, she said. It helps children who have suffered injuries, gives wellness exams and sports physicals and offers clinics for diabetes, obesity and asthma sufferers.
In February, Seton bought a new Care-a-Van for $390,000 thanks to a matching grant from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. Each side paid $195,000.
“It’s an investment so many have given to keep this going in our community,” Fox said. “We rely on their support, and we’re so grateful for that. We’ll continue to get the word out to families that we’re here to help.”
Contact Fox at (512) 715-3367 or bfox@seton.org to sign up or for more information.
jfierro@thepicayune.com