Celebrity Golf Classic Raises $70,000

Posted December 4, 2002

From Left: James Mouton, Retired Major League Baseball Player; Lisa Mouton; John Hudek, Retired Major League Baseball Player; Kim Bauer, (LPGA); Don Most, known as Ralph Malph on Happy Days; and Mike Hampton.

Houston Astro, Craig Biggio joins a group of volunteers on the course at The Woodlands Celebrity Golf Classic.

Tournament Director, Greg Freede, (left) presents the Darryl Kyle memorial tournament trophy to Mike Hampton at the 2002 Woodlands Celebrity Golf Classic.

Tournament Co-Host and former Houston Astro and Cy Young recipient, Doug Drabek, welcomes Phil and Sally Dailey at The Woodlands "Celebrity Night Live" Gala and Auction at The Woodlands Celebrity Golf Classic. The Dailey's are long-time friends and supporters of Montgomery County Youth Services.

Hundreds of guests opened their hearts to help raise money for charity at The Woodlands Celebrity Golf Classic Celebrity Night Live Gala and auction. The weekend event, held at the Woodlands Resort and Conference Center, attracted sports and entertainment celebrities from across the country to help raise over $70,000 to benefit Montgomery County Youth Services (MCYS).

Hosts Doug Drabek and Mike Hampton welcomed a crowd of other sports celebrities including Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Kim Bauer, Larry Dierker, Sean Berry, John Hudek, Brian Bohannon, Jim Deshaies, Billy Joe DuPree, Bob Patterson, and Terry Puhl and entertainment celebrities such as Don Most (known as 'Ralph Malph' from Happy Days) and Frank Dicopoulos from The Guiding Light.

In the last fifteen years, The Classic has raised a total of approximately $1.3 million for children's charities, and contributions from last year's event alone reached over 25,000 children through the various programs MCYS offers to the children throughout Montgomery County.

"It is truly amazing and heartwarming to see so many caring individuals and organizations come together for charity to support so many wonderful kids who deserve our help," said Tournament Director, Greg Freede.

"The Classic continues to be successful for the children throughout our community, and we could not make it happen without the generous and constant support from our sponsors, celebrities, and volunteers," Freede continued.

Continental Airlines' participation as a $25,000 platinum sponsor for this year's tournament was complemented by $10,000 gold sponsorships from The Mike Hampton Pitching In Foundation, Royal Bank of Canada, Woodforest National Bank, and The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center.

The Silver Sponsors of this year's event include:

• Chicago Bridge & Iron
  
• Compass Bank
  
• The Montgomery County Youth Services Board of Directors
  
• SHW Group, Inc.

Grover Printing generously donated the printing of the 'Classic' brochure.

Montgomery County Youth Services, A United Way agency, provides youth and family counseling, substance abuse education and prevention services, adventure based counseling, community outreach programs, and a residential program for homeless youth throughout Montgomery County.

With offices in Conroe, The Woodlands, New Caney, Magnolia, and Huntsville, MCYS has been committed to Montgomery County since 1979 continuously working to help improve young lives.

For more information about The Woodlands Celebrity Golf Classic, please call 800/566-2070.