Log A Load For Kids celebrates a million dollars raised for UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital
Volunteers are preparing for the 23rd annual Tommy Usher Log A Load for Kids Golf Classic, which will be held Oct. 19 at Chiefland Golf and Country Club. This year, event organizers are planning to celebrate the millionth dollar raised for UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, the local Children’s Miracle Network hospital.
What originally began as loggers and wood-suppliers donating the value of a load of logs to their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital has expanded into a variety of creative events. Ken and Lynetta Usher Griner, along with representatives of Farm Credit of Florida, Dee Dot Timberlands, N. G. Wade Investments Inc., and Suwannee Lumber Company have been the main organizers of the annual golf event. They have also relied heavily on other friends, family and industry partners to make it a success every year.
Since 1994, this local group has raised over $980,000 for the kids at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. The event is named in memory of Tommy Usher, who passed away in 1989 and was the youngest member of the board of directors of the Florida Forestry Association.
Lynetta Usher Griner, Tommy’s sister, has been involved in Log A Load for Kids for 23 years.
“Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals are important to me because of our family and friends who have been helped by our local children’s hospital,” Griner said. “Our success is due to the sponsors, golfers and volunteers who return and support our event each and every year. We offer a day of fun and fellowship with exceptional food. Last year’s event brought out 120 golfers.”
Space is limited to only 50 teams for the golf classic. For more information on registration, please visit http://bit.ly/LaLGolf17.
“We’re so appreciative of the donations and the volunteer hours logged each year by the men and women involved with Log A Load For Kids,” said John Lauck, president and CEO of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “Their efforts have resulted in countless miracles for the 62 kids who enter a CMN Hospital every minute.”
Log A Load for Kids has raised more than $48 million for sick and injured children across North America since partnering with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in 1988. The funds raised locally support the greatest needs of UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, including lifesaving equipment, funding for top therapy programs and providing charitable care.
About UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital
UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital is the premier academic children’s hospital in north central Florida. As a recognized leader in pediatric medicine, it serves as a major destination for children from all over the United States and overseas who require specialized attention for complex medical problems. The dynamic University of Florida Health faculty is devoted to the best in patient care, research and education. UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital is a part of the Children’s Miracle Network’s alliance of premier hospitals for children.
About Log A Load For Kids
Log A Load For Kids is an annual fundraising campaign that encourages loggers and others in the forest products community to donate the value of one load of logs, or any amount, to local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. For more information, or to donate funds to a CMN-affiliated hospital in your area, please visit www.logaload.org.
About Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit's mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Please visit CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals to learn more.