Seton Kids Care-A-Van events raise $215,000
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
BURNET — A change of date didn’t change the bottom line.
The Emory Bellard-Spike Dykes Kids Care-A-Van Tailgate Party and Golf Tournament netted $215,000 even with moving the event to June 20-21 from early August.“That’s excellent, that’s really great,” said Becky Fox, Director of Development for Seton Highland Lakes Hospital. “Every dollar we raise, whether through the auction, sponsorships or golf tournament, benefits the children.”
Dykes, the former head football coach at Texas Tech, agreed.
“This is for a great cause,” he said. “It’s unbelievable. We can’t do it without the people. It’s fun, it’s enjoyable. But the best thing is it’s a great cause. It brings tears to your eyes because it’s a great salvation to those kids.”
Dykes told the Tailgate Party attendees that when Bellard, the author of Texas’ famed wishbone offense, called him more than 10 years ago to ask him to host a benefit for the Care-A-Van, the former Red Raider coach expressed some skepticism.
“I know it won’t work if we don’t try,” Dykes recalled Bellard’s response.
So Dykes found the Care-A-Van at one of the many communities it serves in the Highland Lakes and counted 35 children, who went inside. After that, there was another 35.
Bellard told Dykes, “These kids have no medical insurance. Seton provides them free medical care.”
Not long after that, the two spearheaded the event enjoyed by so many during the weekend.
Perhaps the part of this year’s event that benefitted most from the change of date was the golf tournament, which drew 216 teams.
“They were so pleased with us moving the event to June,” Fox said. “We had a lot of positive comments. We gained players because of that. That was better than last year. That’s an improvement for sure. It’s the result of changing from August heat to early summer.”
More than 600 attended the Tailgate Party and bid on more than 200 silent auction items and five live auction items.
“What I want to stress is this event would not be successful without the support from individuals, businesses, foundations and volunteers,” Fox said. “It really is an amazing community that comes together to serve the children in our community.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com