UFV Cascades golf head coach Chris Bertram, Ron Kelly of Bakey Newby LLP, Abbotsford Food Bank manager Dave Murray, and Andie and Nick Taylor (from left) came together on Thursday, Dec. 21 to celebrate a donation to the Starfish Pack program.
In the spirit of the season, PGA Tour golfer Nick Taylor visited a pair of Abbotsford charities on Thursday afternoon to officially donate proceeds from his first annual pro-am fundraising tournament.
The Nick Taylor Charity Pro-Am, presented by Algra Bros. Developments and co-hosted by the University of the Fraser Valley golf program, was held Sept. 28 at Ledgeview Golf Club. The sold-out event raised funds for the Cascades golf teams, along with a pair of charities selected by Taylor and his wife Andie: the Starfish Pack food program which provides food to school children over the weekend, and the Holmberg House adult hospice facility.
On Thursday, the Taylor family joined Cascades golf head coach Chris Bertram and Phil Algra of Algra Bros. Developments as they made stops at Holmberg House and at the Abbotsford Community Services Food Bank, which administers the Starfish Pack initiative. They made donations of $15,000 to each charity, and learned from staff as they shared about the important work they do in the community.
Baker Newby LLP was also instrumental in the Starfish Pack donation, as they provided matching funds.
“The timing couldn’t be more perfect, to be honest,” Nick Taylor said afterward. “It’s a few days before Christmas, and Dave Murray was saying this is the busiest time of year for the Abbotsford Food Bank and for Starfish Packs.
“It’s amazing to be able to give the money that we’ve raised and put it in their hands, and now they can go to work and use it for their causes. It puts the finishing touches on the event, and gets us excited for next year.”
The Cascades men’s and women’s golf teams also benefitted from the Taylor tourney, and they went on to sweep the team titles at both the PACWEST conference championships and the CCAA national championships in October.
Bertram noted that the Cascades seek to prioritize giving back to the community – in addition to the Taylor pro-am, they have also volunteered at charity golf events hosted by the Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Chilliwack Chiefs, the UFV Alumni Association, and more.
“One of the core values we’ve set up as a program and instill in our players is to be good citizens and contributing members of the community,” Bertram said. “This event is one of the ways we get to demonstrate that commitment.”
Nick and Andie Taylor, Marion Keys of the Abbotsford Hospice Society, Phil Algra of Algra Bros. Developments, and UFV Cascades golf head coach Chris Bertram gathered to celebrate a donation to Holmberg House.
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