Peru raises $12,571 for Cops 4 Cancer during annual charity golf outing

Following its Sept. 11 fundraising golf outing, the city of Peru presented a check from $12,571 to the Cops 4 Cancer organization.

The outing was organized by the city’s Health and Wellness Committee and was able to make its return this year following a one-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This was actually our second charity outing as the first was back in 2019 and the charity that was the recipient that year of the donations was the Special Olympics,” said Director of Human Resources Kim Reese. “With that first outing being so successful we decided to do it again.”

Wanting to spread out the recipient of the fundraiser, the committee elected to provide the donations to Cops 4 Cancer for the 2021 outing.

“We chose Cops 4 Cancer because it’s an excellent organization,” Reese said. “Obviously all of the funds that they raise goes directly to local families and community members that are impacted by cancer.”

Reese also mentioned the city wanted to do what they can to help replenish Cops 4 Cancers funds that have been diminished because of the pandemic.

This year’s outing featured 100 golfers at Senica’s Oak Ridge in teams of four. The event featured fundraising opportunities throughout the day.

Reese thanked the golfers, the 41 outing sponsors, 21 donors of prize items, Cops 4 Cancer representatives, Health and Wellness Committee members, city officials and many others who had a hand in making the event possible.

Reese said the city felt great about the amount of support the outing was able to gather throughout the city.

“We feel fantastic,” Reese said. “It’s such a great organization that’s got a great following. That’s what made it so easy for people to participate in it and show their generosity.”

Reese mentioned that the original idea for a golf outing was to just have some city employees get together. After setting the plan in motion, a few years ago, they decided to use the opportunity to raise money for great causes.

The Health and Wellness Committee has already held a debriefing meeting as they begin to plan for next year’s outing with a goal to continue and grow the event that raises money for those in need.

“100 golfers was really a good number, so we definitely want to push forward and make it more successful if we could,” Reese said. “We want to make it a better outing for those involved and bigger if possible.”

Reese mentioned the committee would like to alternate the charity the donations will go toward yearly.