Ken Reed golf tournament – 114 golfers braved the scorching heat on Monday August 6 and teed-off at the Beaconsfield Golf Club in Pointe-Claire in support of the Old Brewery Mission’s 15th Annual Ken Reed Golf Tournament, presented by The Tenaquip Foundation. In addition to being sold out, the event raised a record $258,000 to help end chronic homelessness in Montreal.
Matthew Pearce, CEO of the Old Brewery Mission, says the funds will go beyond providing nutritious meals and a safe place to sleep for homeless men and women. The problem with traditional shelters is that they end up facilitating homelessness, says Pearce. We need to challenge the status quo and work together to provide complementary services that span from homelessness prevention to affordable, permanent housing with supports for those who need it most.
The tournament’s chairman and co-founder, Jim Ross, who kicked off the evening ceremony by playing the bagpipes, says he is inspired by the Reed family’s continued compassion and generosity towards fellow Montrealers in need. We owe the success of this special event to the late Ken Reed and his family, who carry on his legacy year after year, he remarks. They never lost sight of his commitment to the homeless men and women he saw lined up outside the Old Brewery Mission on his way to work. Their continued support is truly remarkable.
Tournament Highlights
After a hot day on the greens, golfers attended an evening hosted by veteran sports reporter and media personality Paul Graif. Later, guests were treated to live musical performances by Montreal-based band The Old Mills, playing a mix of oldies and pop hits, reinvented with their unique bluesy-country sound.
Prizes up for grabs at the silent and live auctions included gift certificates, weekend getaways, luxury and sports items, courtesy of Canada Steamship Lines, Europa Group, Golf Town, Power Corporation, Realterm and many others.
The Old Brewery Mission wishes to thank its donors, notably The Tenaquip Foundation, Gladstone Investment Corporation, Manulife Financial, Mitzi & Mel Dobrin Family Foundation, William Gregory, Zakuta Family Foundation, DLA Piper Canada LLP, JBL Canada and Anthony Layton for their generosity.
The event was presented by The Tenaquip Foundation and sponsored by Consortia, Pipe & Piling Supplies Ltd., Lapointe Rosenstein Marchand Melançon, Groupe Park Avenue, Marcolin & Associes, Monaco Montreal and Reitmans.
Warm thanks to the Organizing Committee: Chair, Jim Ross, Fraiser Baird, Elliott Brott, Stephanie Gilbert, Courtney Legault, Jack Malric, Michael Owston, Paula Shannon, and Jim Wilson, with the support of the Old Brewery Mission’s development and administrative team.
About the Old Brewery Mission
Established in Montreal since 1889, the Old Brewery Mission is the largest resource for homeless men in Quebec and for homeless women in Canada. The Mission provides life-saving emergency services, as well as adapted physical and mental health programs, affordable housing options, psychosocial support, community outreach and research. Aimed at eliminating chronic homelessness in Montreal, our person-centred approach puts a strong focus on rapid re-housing and helps over 4,000 homeless people each year to rebuild their lives. For more information visit www.oldbrewerymission.ca.
Feature image: From left to right: Matthew Pearce (President and CEO, Old Brewery Mission), Jim Ross (Chair of the Golf Committee, Old Brewery Mission), Michael Fitzgerald (Executive Director of The Tenaquip Foundation) and Eric Maldoff (Chair of the Board of Directors, Old Brewery Mission).
