DAVENPORT — More than $13,000 was raised for emergency scholarship funds during the 21st annual Father Ken Martin Golf Outing and Dinner Sept. 2.
The money is held in trust by the Assumption Foundation K-12 Catholic Schools, said Jim Tiedje, chairman of the golf outing committee. Families with children attending any of Scott County’s Catholic schools and facing crisis situations during the current school year can make an application for assistance through their principal or pastor.
Tiedje said the golf outing committee remains active throughout the year and is ready to review credible applications and provide timely financial assistance to families in need.
Fr. “Kenny” served as a priest in the Diocese of Davenport before his death in 1986. Being an avid golfer, he left a modest bequest to his golfing buddies to have a day of golf and partying in his memory, Tiedje said.
Those friends decided the next year to honor Fr. Kenny by creating a fundraising event. The event has endured, and to date more than $225,000 has been raised for the benefit of Catholic schools.
A special “putter” trophy that features Fr. Kenny’s putter is awarded each year to a special friend. This year’s trophy winner was Father William Dawson, a retired priest of the diocese who has played in nearly all of the annual outings. Tiedje, who was last year’s trophy recipient, passed the trophy to Fr. Dawson at the end of the evening.
Next year’s golf outing is scheduled for Sept. 1, 2010.
