BLYN — Last year’s Fourth of July inaugural fundraiser for disabled veterans was such a success that organizer Bill Ellis is throwing another party this year.
And he promises it will be bigger and better — as well as a month earlier to avoid conflicting with Fourth of July activities.
This year’s effort offers a benefit golf tournament and concert.
Americans Helping Our Disabled Veterans and Families raised $5,500 for Disabled American Veterans when it was hosted by the Sequim Elks Club in 2016.
This year, the celebration/benefit is moving to the Cedars at Dungeness, hosted by the golf course owned by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe — and it will be on this coming Sunday.
“This time, I think it’s going to be really big, with all the entertainment that’s coming out,” said Ellis, a Sequim resident. “The high school kids are really jumping in there.”
The four-person scramble will begin with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. at the golf course at 1965 Woodcock Road. The cost is $85, which includes green fee, cart, tee prize and lunch.
It will be followed by a post-tournament celebration of a variety of live music.
More might be added before the show begins, but on board so far are:
• 12:30 p.m. — Grand Olympic Chorus.
• 1:30 p.m. — Fat Chance rock ’n’ roll.
• 2:45 p.m. — Sequim High School Choir.
• 4:15 p.m. — Sequim High School Jazz Band.
• 5 p.m. — Cats Meow swing quartet.
Admission to the concert is by donation.
All proceeds will be given to the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 9, based in Port Angeles, which serves Clallam and Jefferson counties, with the understanding that 100 percent of the money goes directly to veterans in need.
Ellis, an 83-year-old Korean War veteran who served four combat tours in the Navy and was not wounded, said he spearheaded the inaugural event last year because he feels more needs to be done to help disabled veterans and their families.
“Our disabled veterans need us to show them we really care,” Ellis said then.
Sponsors bought tees with advertising on them for $100, he added, saying that the second tee was $75.
The Sequim Elks Club bought the first tee, he said.
Because the club hosted last year’s event, it will be on the first tee, he explained.
“It took the Elks to start this thing. They really jumped in,” Ellis said.
“What a great bunch of people.”
For registration and more information, call the golf course at 360-582-4900.
