The 7th Annual Mario V. Chalmers Foundation Golf Tournament & Vip Mixer

The 7th Annual Mario V. Chalmers Foundation Golf Tournament & VIP Mixer Weekend hosted by Miami HEAT Point Guard and former Kansas Jayhawk star, Mario Chalmers, was a huge success, raising more than $25,000 for the Mario V. Chalmers Foundation and Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence. More than 125 local notables including KU Basketball Coach Bill Self, business leaders and sports fans took part in the events held in Lawrence, KS. The weekend began with a Tip-Off Party at Legends Lawrence on Saturday, July 25th with 10 percent of the entire day’s sales were donated to the Mario V. Chalmers Foundation. Attendees had the chance to mix and mingle with Mario Chalmers and try the official Mario Chalmers Turkey Burger.

A private VIP Fireside Chat took place on Sunday, July 26th between Mario and Tom Keegan, a columnist with Lawrence Journal. Guests indulged in a three-course meal at Alvamar Country Club while Mario shared personal stories about growing up in the Chalmers household and the good ol’ KU days. The weekend wrapped up on Monday, July 27th with 18 holes of golf at Alvamar’s Members Only Course, drinks, lunch catered by Chipotle and contests on the course. Later that evening, guests mingled at the VIP Mixer that featured a live auction, BBQ buffet, cocktails, live music courtesy of Lex Norwood, goody bags and an awards ceremony.

The Mario V. Chalmers Foundation creates and supports community-based programs that encourage the positive development of youth through sports and education. A portion of the proceeds benefitted Boys & Girls Clubs of Lawrence’s new Teen Center. The new Teen Center will serve more than 250 teens on a daily basis – five times as many middle school and high school students than the current Center.

“Helping others has always been a significant part of my life. I’m so blessed to be able to give back to a community that has continuously showed their support for me throughout the years,” said Mario Chalmers, Miami HEAT Point Guard.

On behalf of Boys & Girls Clubs of Lawrence, Executive Director Colby Wilson stated, “We are so grateful for everything that Mario and the Mario V. Chalmers Foundation does to help so many Lawrence community members. This is a great example of how events like these can have a direct impact on teens in Lawrence.”

Highlights of the VIP Mixer included a ceremonial tee-off shot taken by Kansas Jayhawk Basketball Coach Bill Self and a warm welcome by former Jayhawk Radio Network Personality, Brian Hanni. The spectacular live auction featured six amazing items including a VIP Miami Heat Experience including four Lower Level Tickets to a Miami HEAT game at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, parking in the HEAT Player Garage, pre-game “Meet & Greet” with HEAT players, autographed Miami HEAT Team signed basketball, as well as a Behind the Scenes Private Tour of the Gatorade Championship Alley in Hallowed Halls, dinner at Prime 112 and $1,000 travel credit. Other items included a Golf Membership Package for two at six premier Kansas City area golf courses, two rounds of golf at FireKeepers Golf Course, and a one night hotel stay at Prairie Band Casino & Resort; an in-home Executive Chef Experience and Wine Pairings courtesy of Alvamar Country Club; Jayhawk Experience including four tickets to a KU Basketball Game at Allen Fieldhouse, and dinner and drinks at Six Mile Chophouse and Professional Photography Services compliments of Chuck France Photography.

Event sponsors included McDonald’s of Lawrence; Crown Toyota, Scion, and Volkswagen of Lawrence; Scott Still of The Still Raye Group; New Image Concrete; Catherine Evans DDS; Paradise Carpet; Chipotle; Clear10 Vodka; 23rd Street Brewery and Legends of Lawrence; KLWN Radio; O’Malley Beverage; CEK Insurance; DICK’s Sporting Goods; Freestate Doors; Chuck France Photography; Centro Cigars; Lakeview Excavating; Essential Inspections; Prairie Band Casino; Lawrence Chamber of Commerce; Wilson; Team Rio; Harry Herrington; Mike and Mary Higgins; Moore Evaluation; Say Cheez Photo Booth; City Wine Market and Maxim Golf Solutions.

ABOUT THE MARIO V. CHALMERS FOUNDATION
The mission of the Mario V. Chalmers Foundation is to create and support community-based programs that encourage the positive development of youth through sports and education and fund initiatives for breast cancer research and treatment. Raising funds for women with breast cancer has been a major cause that Mario Chalmers has supported ever since a dear childhood friend’s mother passed away from the disease a number of years ago. The foundation also strives to empower, inspire and enable youth to live healthy lifestyles, put education first and give back to their communities. Each activity supported by the Mario V. Chalmers Foundation encourages youths to stay positive and remind them that in times of adversity…we must perform. For more information, please like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarioVChalmersFoundation.

ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LAWRENCE
At the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence we dream a world where every child is given the opportunity to succeed in life and experience a brighter future. Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence offers 14 program sites across town, 13 within elementary schools, where we provide an outcome-driven Club experience to help each member achieve academic success, good character and citizenship and healthy lifestyles. Our caring adult mentors incorporate the five key elements for positive youth development – a safe and positive environment, fun, supportive relationships, opportunities and expectations and recognition – for 1,400 young people every day.