Originally published at: https://discgolf.ultiworld.com/livewire/post-st-jude-fundraising-surpasses-190000/
After a months-long fundraising campaign that culminated in last weekend’s St. Jude Disc Golf Charity Invitational, event organizers presented the Memphis-based children’s hospital with a check for $190,334.
Nate Sexton ended up being the event’s top individual fundraiser at $9,026, while his joint “SexyBeast Tour” team with Paul McBeth and other Innova Discs players brought in an additional $12,492 for the event.
“I think we still have an outside shot of reaching that $300,000 [fundraising goal],” Sexton said. “My goal is just to get more people involved, not necessarily to donate through me, but to sign up…The key is casting a wider net rather than relying on a small community.”
While the initial amount raised after this year’s tournament was less than last year’s $210,000 impact, Sexton said the lower number presents an opportunity for growth.
“I still see it as a positive,” Sexton said. “I still think a lot more can be done, so I definitely don’t see it as a failure, but I know we can do better. I’m looking forward to next year and seeing what kind of new incentives and changes [organizers] can make.”
Sexton mentioned that incentives for next year’s event were already communicated to players, including naming each of the holes on the tournament’s professional level course after the top 18 individual fundraisers, and extending that same courtesy to the top 18 fundraising teams for the amateur level layout.
Contributions that add to the 2016 total are still being accepted through June 30.