It’s fair to say that being a kid in any era—let alone in our increasingly hectic present-day—is fraught with challenges.
Now, add to all the normal hitches of growing up: a parent or parents forced to work multiple jobs, or a classroom stuffed to the brim with 25, 30 students all needing something individual from a teacher who’s overworked and underpaid.
Enter Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County (BGCM), an all-star organization in our community that steps in to help give kids a safe and enriching environment where and when they need it.
“We serve over 300 kids a year,” says Olivia Adams, director of events and outreach for Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County. “I think what drew me to the job is that there's a million gaps in a million families and the Boys and Girls Club helps with all of those. It's families of all ages, all sizes, at different income levels.”
“Missoula is such a family-centered community,” she continues. “One of the few things it seems like everybody can agrees on is: taking care of our own and taking care of our families, and our kids. We just focus on not necessarily providing events and spaces for a single group, but for anybody and everybody to come in and be themselves.”
This summer will be the second installation of the BGCM Golf Classic up at the Highlands Golf Course, a chance to bring together “community leaders, local businesses, and passionate supporters for a day of friendly competition, connection, and impact,” according to the website.
“The feedback last year was overwhelmingly positive, so we're doing it again,” Olivia says. “It's a really good excuse to get on the green, enjoy the sunshine, be with friends, have a drink, have some food, and give back to the community.”
The Keep Restaurant, a Missoula landmark nestled among the rolling hills of Highlands Golf Course, will once again be providing food.
“It’s our second year hosting,” says Melissa Mooney, co-owner of The Keep. “It goes to a good cause and helps a nonprofit in the community.”
A golf tournament might not sound like everyone’s idea of a good time, but Olivia and the rest of the team are making sure things stay light, and that the event remains more than your average day on the links.
“We award prizes for best team,” Olivia says, “and we also want to do a prize for the worst team. You know, to make it fun. It’s a morning where it's a little bit more than just buying a golf pass and playing golf, which you can do any day, right?”
She goes on to say, “I have been having a lot of meetings with Johnny, the owner at Last Best Golf Company. And he's been awesome, giving ideas to make it a really fun and unique experience. He's gonna bring some really nice clubs and also some beater clubs. Maybe there's a couple holes where you have to spin a wheel and we pick what club you use, and it could be a brand-new club or it could be a wooden, horrible club. Just having some fun with it and making it a great morning to be on the greens with people.”
Unlike most other programming put on by Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County, the Golf Classic is, unfortunately, not an event for kids to participate in. But it is, ultimately, an event for kids.
The BCGM Golf Classic, while it is a chance to bring folks together for a fun day of golfing, is, in the end, about raising funds for the Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County, so they can continue supporting Missoula’s youth.
So, what does all the fundraising support?
“It provides access to STEM and art,” Olivia says. “And we partner with over 20 different organizations in the community to get the kids to the Butterfly House, the ice skating rink, the baseball stadium, and give everybody these equal experiences that they may or may not have otherwise.”
“We did a crawfish boil in March,” she continues, “a free ice skating event, and Holiday on Higgins. We do events that we really want our club kids to access first, like the Santa Skates ice skating event. Times are tough, especially for families right now, and being able to take your kids and have these Missoula experiences that oftentimes aren't always accessible, we’re finding ways to open up opportunities to our kids.”
There are also “clubs” within Boys & Girls club, which give kids a safe place to hang out while their folks are working, or just in need of the occasional breather (what parent isn’t?). There’s a club for after-school hours, or daytime club when schools are on holiday breaks, summer break club, and clubs that keep kids engaged and enriched: robotics club, Dungeons and Dragons club, cooking club.
If they want to play golf, well, Olivia has got them covered.
“We always like to pair with another event that’s more open to anybody,” she says. “I’ve been working with Highlands and we’re hoping to do a mini golf night later this summer, that’s open to families.”
Golf Classic for the Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County
Saturday, June 20
Check-in time of 8:30 a.m. at Highlands Golf Club
“It's a really good excuse to get on the green, enjoy the sunshine, be with friends, have a drink, have some food, and give back to the community.” - Director of Events and Outreach for BGCM, Olivia Adams