Courtesy photoBusiness fraternity Delta Sigma Pi wants people to tee off not just for a trophy, but for a couple of good causes in its fifth annual Charity Golf Tournament for Local Charities.
This year’s tournament benefits local chapters of The Work Training Program, Inc. and Big Brothers Big Sisters. The Work Training Program needs to renovate its transitional housing program, which is a six-resident home that offers living skills to more than 400 clients.
Also, Big Brothers Big Sisters aspires to start a “High School Bigs” school-based site program at Nipomo Elementary to match high-school mentors with at-risk youth.
“We’re most grateful for the help of Delta Sigma Pi,” said Anna Boyd Bucy, associate executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County.
Stephen Dinh, the tournament executive director and a business senior, created and sent an application through the United Way to nonprofit organizations in order to be selected as a beneficiary of the event.
He and other members of Delta Sigma Pi reviewed the applications and chose The Work Training Program and Big Brothers Big Sisters based on need and because they have not been selected as beneficiaries of the tournament before.
The fraternity anticipates 80 people will compete in this year’s tournament, and hopes to bring in double the $6,000 last year’s tournament raised for the Maxine Lewis Memorial Shelter in San Luis Obispo.
The event, which will be at the Monarch Dunes Golf Course in Nipomo, will be held April 26, but sign-ups end on April 16.
Golfing starts at 1 p.m., and other activities include a silent auction, raffle and contests such as the longest drive, the drive closest to the pin, and the best overall score.
“It’s a great opportunity to be involved and give back to the community,” Dinh said.
Dinh added that the fraternity is working primarily to attract students, especially those interested in the business field, to compete because many of the event’s sponsors have internships and other positions available for students.
Tournament sponsors include Hubbs & Associate Consulting Group, Ameriprise Financial and Progressive Insurance.
Delta Sigma Pi is a professional co-ed business fraternity that organizes and participates in activities based on the three pillars of professionalism, brotherhood and community service. The fraternity of more than 50 members hosts company representatives, holds a variety of social events and participates in service projects such as taking children from the Housing Authority of the City of San Luis Obispo to Cal Poly basketball games.
The golf tournament started as a fundraiser five years ago. Dinh explained the first two did not raise much money, but Delta Sigma Pi alum William Hills motivated the fraternity to get more involved and raise $16,000 in the third trial. He also transformed it into the charity event it has been for the past three years.