After a quarter century of heading up the Medbrook Children’s Charity Golf Classic, Bridgeport Dr. Kelly Nelson knows he spends as much time watching the weather forecast heading up to the event than he does a whole lot of other things.

 

“I check every weather app there is,” said Nelson. “It made me think about our area getting devastated around us by the floods and I know that even when we got rain the past that it wasn’t going to change a whole lot. I started thinking we could help some of the people hurt the most.”

 

And that is what is happening. Last night, Nelson said the charity is using a portion of its funds to donate $10,000 to Lewis County for flood relief.

 

“Our board of directors met (Sunday) and they all agreed,” said Nelson. “They realized we’re looking at raindrops ruining our event, and since everyone still given, it wouldn’t mean anything. Those people that were impacted by the flooding, their entire lives have been turned around, and we’re able to help.”

 

The good news does not stop there. Nelson also announced that once the decision was made and MVB Bank CEO Larry Mazza heard about it he announced that he would match the donation. Now, $20,000 is going to Lewis County for flood relief.

 

Not a bad way to start the second quarter century of giving by the local charity. Another good thing was that Nelson said, although the numbers are not finalized, he anticipated a net more than $150,000 from Monday’s event.

 

Even better news is that Nelson assured those involved that their primary beneficiaries will still get plenty of funds. For the course of the first 25 years, the Harrison County Schools have been the primary recipient. Four programs receive funding from the money provided – they are the Children’s Apparel Program, the School Nurses Discretionary Fund, the Adaptive Equipment Fund, and the Families in Transition program.

 

Nelson said other programs receiving funds is the Sleep in Heavenly Peace program, as well as filling a void in communities where businesses are sparse and finding sponsors for youth teams is often problematic. They also were the title sponsor for the new City of Bridgeport Inclusive Playground at The Bridge.

 

All of that is possible thanks to another record field of golfers. Nelson said there were north of 190 at Monday’s event, which came after Sunday’s “pre-party,” all of which are held at the Pete Dye Golf Club. While Nelson guarantees all golfers and donors will have a fun time, he also guarantees there is no chance of getting in 18 holes with such a large field.

 

“It didn’t matter (yesterday). It has never mattered in the past. The participants know why they’re here, and that’s why this works,” Nelson said. “I keep thinking it’s going to slow down, and everyone keeps proving me wrong, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

 

“The reward for their kindness is our saying, ‘Party with a Purpose.’ We take the party very seriously but flip the serious part to the purpose as the result,” Nelson continued.. “Everyone knows the party precedes the purpose and does not supersede it.”

 

Another big milestone was reached Monday.Last year, the charity’s board of directors initiated the Children’s Champion Legacy Fund and launched “The 25 for 25” campaign. The goal was to attract 25 donors at a level of $ 25,000 to help fund the charity to perpetuity.

 

“We sealed the 25^th donor, and the campaign was a smashing success,” said Nelson. “We needed to build a fund to outlive us and outlive even the younger group that is involved when I’m not around and perhaps the tournament is no more. Even if it ends, this fund will help assure that the help will always be there.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Dr. Kelly Nelson near the start of Monday's 26th Annual Medbrook Children's Charity Golf Classic. In the second photo some of the high quality food available along the course is being prepared, while the bottom image shows Nelson with a crew consisting of, from left, David Alvarez, Nelson, Chris Cleghorn, Jack Murphy, and Bobby Marra, all ready to have fun Monday afternoon. Photos by Joe LaRocca.