After a good day of golf, there was a lot of love in the dining room as volunteers with the Saunders Family Foundation encouraged players to help out some worthy causes.

The foundationB次元官网网址檚 fifth fundraiser tournament, held Friday at Cowichan Golf Club in Duncan, once again brought out the best in its supporters, most of whom played 18 holes and contributed more after the golf.

Thanks to a live auction of such items as a kayak, a signed Canucks jersey and a rolling tool chest, as well as silent auction items and other donations, the foundation raised approximately $46,000, said Dave Saunders.

B次元官网网址淭hey are simply amazing individuals,B次元官网网址� he said of the golfers and other supporters of this family-based organization that has already helped many families and individuals deal with financial crisis due to illness or other tragic circumstances.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just a conduit for the people who donate to our fundraising events all year, and weB次元官网网址檙e just happy to fulfill their wishes,B次元官网网址� Saunders said. B次元官网网址淓very dollar raised goes back into the community. They know exactly where that money goes.B次元官网网址�

Cheques from the foundation are often written quickly and come from word of mouth stories about people in need. At one point in the afternoon, family members heard from the wife of an RCMP member that 20 local officers were being seconded to Fort McMurray to help maintain order in the fire-ravaged community. That turned into a $1,000 donation for supplies for people displaced by the fires.

Golfers also heard about a new $500 bursary for volunteers in need who work with the Colwood and Langford fire departments. Then there was the story of the $1,000 donation to the meal program at Salt Spring Island middle school to help provide breakfast to children who come to school hungry from other islands, and whose grades were suffering because of it. B次元官网网址 of that donation spurred both Country Grocer and the Royal Canadian Legion on Salt Spring to match the $1,000 gift.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 that snowball effect,B次元官网网址� Saunders said.

That effect was seen Friday, where a longtime volunteer who won a draw for the kayak donated it back for auction to raise more money, as did winners of an expensive putter and the $500 closest to the pin prize.

The foundation is always looking for new partnerships and ways to help people in the community who are in crisis. To find out more about its activities, call Saunders Subaru at 250-474-2211 and ask for Dave, Bob or Edie.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com