The Platt Golf Challenge
Charity Near and Dear to Gilder’s Heart
By Bridget Lynch
When
Bob Gilder comes to Portland in August the
Jeld-Wen Tradition will not be the only thing on his demanding schedule.
A cause near and dear to Gilder’s heart will get some of the busy
PGA Champion’s Tour pro’s time and energy. Gilder is playing
in the Platt Golf Challenge 2004, a benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
“This is the first year I’ll be playing in
the tournament. It’s very important to me because my grandson has
CF—he’s two years old,” Gilder said.
Gilder got involved with the event through Chris Otis,
director of the Oregon Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
“Chris and I talked and she told me about the event
and I wanted to participate,” Gilder said. “I’m looking
forward to it.”
This will be the seventh year the tournament will be held
at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course and this year the event has expanded to include
both the public Ghost Creek course and the private Witch Hollow side of
the club.
“We hope to have over 200 golfers and blow by the
$120,000 we raised for CF last year,” Platt said. “Overall,
I believe we are just under $3 million raised for CF since Platt Electric
got involved with the charity in 1989.”
Gilder
will help promote the event, play in it and bring some of the items to
be sold at an auction to benefit CF.
“Bob and I are going to radio stations to promote the tournament
and we’re adding a new twist this year by starting the bidding for
some of the auction items on the radio and then we’ll continue to
take bids at the auction itself,” said Harvey Platt, president of
Platt Electric and tournament organizer. “For instance we have a
great item that includes two tickets on the 50-yard line at Lambeau Field,
a tour of the facility, and a meet-and-greet with some of the Green Bay
Packers. Bob and I will start bidding for that item on 860 KPAM with Bob
Miller on the morning of August 13. The last bid on the radio will then
be the starting bid at the auction.”
Gilder and
Platt will also be making a stop at The Fan 1080 FM to start the bidding
on courtside tickets for a Los Angeles Lakers game and a behind the scenes
tour at ESPN.
Gilder will
donate autographed pin flags from the Champion’s Tour for the auction
as well as a lesson and round of golf.
The tournament
is in its ninth year and is sponsored by IEC/NECA.
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