Caddies 4 Cure Hosts Annual Celebrity Golf Classic with All-Star Roster

Jerry Rice and Moses Malone

Aloha, June 24rd. The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club welcomed Caddies 4 Cure and star athletes like Jerry Rice and Moses Malone. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus) The Portland-based nonprofit officially passed the $1 million mark for fundraising in its history, and this year raised over $196,000 alone. Caddies 4 Cure is dedicated to raising money and awareness for causes that meet the needs of children and families in the community. New and returning celebrities at the event included Ken Griffey Jr., Marshall Faulk, Jerome Bettis, Ozzie Smith, ESPN SportsCenter anchors Jay Harris and Mike Hill.

Ken Griffey enjoyed the event with his teammates.

Caddies 4 Cure 2012

The Jerome Bettis JEA team

George Gervin and Marc Haddad played on. The helicopter ball-drop was a hit.

Helicopter-ball drop winner Chris Atkins with Barrett

Proceeds from the event will benefit northwest charities, including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oregon Chapter, and Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel.

Tom Gorman and Ozzie Smith

About Caddies 4 Cure:

Caddies 4 Cure was established in 2002 by Ryan DuChene and Justin Marquart. Friends for more than 20 years, Ryan and Justin founded Caddies 4 Cure as a way to raise money for two charities close to their hearts, Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oregon chapter. In 2000, Justin and Lisa Marquart’s daughter, Ella Marie, passed away at three weeks old from a congenital heart defect after several weeks in Emanuel’s Pediatric Care Unit. And in 2001, Ryan’s wife, Marci, was diagnosed with MS. Ryan and Marci have become very involved with the National MS Society and hope that their charitable efforts will one day lead to a cure.

People still have the chance to contribute by purchasing a Caddies 4 Cure t-shirt from WearsMyShirt.com. The T’s will help fundraise for Caddies 4 Cure and they will also be the purchaser’s entry ticket into a “Photo Contest” where the top 9 “Liked” photo’s will win autographed memorabilia from some of sports all-time greats including Jerry Rice, Ken Griffey Jr. and Moses Malone. Details of the contest can be found at http://www.wearsmyshirt.com/charities/Caddies-4-Cure.html#/charities/Caddies-4-Cure/contests.html.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.