The Daviess County Fire Department on Friday hosted its 12th annual Christmas Wish Golf Scramble, which has become one of the most anticipated charity tournaments in the area. Proceeds go directly to the local Christmas Wish program.
The tournament was held on Friday morning at Ben Hawes Golf Course, drawing a sold-out field of teams and dozens of community sponsors. Total funds raised this year have not been calculated. Last year’s event shattered records, raising nearly $40,000 to provide gifts and meals for families in need.
Firefighter and event organizer Will McCrady said the response once again highlighted the community’s generosity.
“We sell out every year on teams. We’re incredibly grateful for it,” McCrady said. “It’s always great to see this many people come out for such a worthy cause and support it.”
McCrady said the day also gave firefighters a chance to interact with the public outside of their typical roles.
“It’s a good time for all of them to get together, and it’s good for us to kind of get out in the community under different circumstances than we normally get to,” he said. “[Christmas Wish has] been great to us over the years, and we’re glad to give back in a different way to our community.”
Christmas Wish Director Barb Birgy said the tournament has grown into a critical part of their mission.
“We were just talking about how it’s grown from a couple thousand dollars, which was huge for Christmas Wish, and now it’s like $25,000 or more,” Birgy said. “It’s been unbelievable to watch it progress and sell out every year. People talk about how this is one of the events they look forward to, which warms my heart, because Christmas Wish needs it.”
She noted the organization is now in its 49th season, serving more than 2,500 families and 8,000 children across the tri-state each year.
“The need is real. People need help, and it’s not just about toys,” Birgy said. “We help with bedding, beds, and general needs. We find a way to get it done with partnerships throughout the community. That’s what it’s all about, helping people with whatever their needs might be.”
Both McCrady and Birgy said the day’s success came down to the collective support of teams, sponsors, and volunteers.
“We’ve got sponsors from all over the community — national corporations down to local businesses,” McCrady said. “Those are the kind of businesses we want to support while we’re going about our day-to-day lives.”
