Charity Golf Challenge History

In February of 2014 my mom was not doing well health-wise. Mom was battling pancreatic cancer and we knew her time would be short so I needed something to focus on in order to stay as positive as possible. Mom and I thought that a small fundraiser golf tournament might accomplish that goal and my father also agreed with the idea. I contacted my friend, Kevin Collins, who at the time was Executive Director of what is now known as We Care Canada, and informed him that their charity would be the benefactor, as I had been involved with We Care and Easter Seals Ontario for many years. I attended Easter Seals camp as a young boy, was a local Easter Seals “Timmy” in the early 1980s, and took part with Canadian golf great and PGA tour player Al Balding during the Al Balding Golf Week for Timmy. It was at Al’s request that the pro at Carrying Place Golf & Country Club, Paul Dove, and his assistant, Gary Betts, gave me golf lessons. I have since been involved in many community projects and events. In 1985 I got to live my dream and skate at Maple Leaf Gardens in Bobby Orr’s annual skate-a-thon and did so for the next 9 years. I am proud that we are still friends to this day. In 1987 I had the opportunity to work at Easter Seals Ontario’s head office in Toronto as a Co-op student and earn credits toward my high school diploma. While there I learned the ups and downs of event planning and fundraising.

Late in 2023, after 10 years supporting We Care Canada and over $140,000 raised to send kids with physical disabilities to Easter Seals Camps across Canada, we decided, on the advice of my father, to take a year off from our golf event.

Soon after that, again with the support of my father, I presented the King Proud merchandise concept to the King Chamber of Commerce, with the idea that the proceeds would go to a King Chamber Youth Grant. Garnering their support, we began working with the chamber administrator and a graphic designer and, with the help of Surge Activewear in Schomberg, our merchandise was set to be launched.

Sadly, on December 31, 2023, our father passed away. Soon after, the King Chamber contacted me about calling the grant The Morning Youth Grant in honour of his tireless work as a community volunteer, recognizing he also served as Ward 5 King Township Councilor for 20 years. In 2025 I am proud to say we are relaunching the golf tournament and rebranding it as the King Proud Charity Golf Challenge in support of the King Chamber of Commerce (Morning Youth Grant), supporting young entrepreneurs in King Township, King Township’s Lions Clubs and Easter Seals Ontario to send children with physical disabilities to Easter Seals Camps in Ontario. As always, since day 1 in 2014, 4-time Canadian Olympian and lifelong friend Brian Stemmle will return as our event emcee. So tee it high and let it fly!