The picturesque blue sky dotted with white clouds made for a wonderful morning of golf at the Talking Stick Golf Resort on December 4 as the Salt River Community Children’s Foundation celebrated its 20th annual golf tournament.
DJ Reflekshin provided the tunes from his DJ booth as golfers registered their teams and collected prizes and giveaways from various Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community vendor booths.
Before the tournament began, SRPMIC Council member Deanna Scabby welcomed golfers and attendees to the Talking Stick Resort Golf Course. In her speech, she mentioned her late husband Bob Scabby and his impact on the origins of the Foundation.
“My late husband Bob is the founder of the Children’s Foundation, and he had a dream that started when [one of our] Community members told him he wanted to run in the Olympics,” she began. “That’s what conjured up the idea of a foundation for the children in the Community to get them experience, opportunities and exposure.”
Following Scabby’s welcome, Jr. Miss Salt River Jizelle Juan provided the blessing. She also provided blessings for those currently sick and in mourning and wished for all attendees to have safe travels home.
Pila Mendoza, chair of the Salt River Community Foundation, said a few words and thanked those in attendance. She invited SRPMIC President Martin Harvier to say a few words prior to tee-off.
“I want to thank the board for the work they do all year,” Harvier began. “Everyone has been born with a talent; sometimes they don’t have that opportunity. By you being here, you’re providing an opportunity for our children. God bless you, thank you,” he said.
Mendoza then invited Providence First Trust staff members and all SRPMIC Council members up front for a special gift presentation. “For being our 20th main sponsor, we would like to provide you this special gift so you can hang it in your office,” said Mendoza. SRPMIC Community member Michelle Long hand-painted a mural that features a woman wearing a ribbon skirt walking alongside the mountains as roadrunners follow her on the path.
As it has been for two decades now, the Salt River Children’s Foundation annual golf tournament provided an opportunity to witness the positive impact the Foundation has had on the Community’s children. “Thank you everybody; we sincerely appreciate every one of you,” stated Mendoza.
