August, 2004

Amherst Daily News on Board as major sponsor:
Highland Classic golf tourney set to go Aug. 13
by Darrell Cole, The Amherst Daily News

AMHERST - The Amherst Daily News has come on board as a major sponsor of this year's Highland Classic Charity Golf Tournament. This year's edition of the Highland Classic is set for Friday, Aug.13, at the Amherst Golf and Country Club, which has once again donated the use of the course for the event. Participants will be served a light lunch before hitting the tees for a 1pm shotgun start.

As part of its commitment to the Cumberland Health Care Foundation, the Amherst Daily News will serve as the presenting sponsor of the Highland Classic - one of the three major fundraiser's held by the foundation every year.

"We're pleased and honoured to have been given this opportunity to support such a worthwhile cause," the paper's general manager Paul Ramsay said. "The foundation has played a prominent role in the lives of people in Cumberland and Westmorland counties through its support of local health care and the Highland Classic is an important function on the foundation's calendar."

Numerous prizes will be up for grabs including several special competitions while several local firms are offering hole-in-one prizes including cars from Amherst Toyota and Amherst Chrysler Dodge Jeep while Barnes Insurance and RBC Royal Bank are each putting up prizes valued at $25,000.

Festivities will wrap up with a steak barbecue and silent auction, featuring former premier Roger Bacon as auctioneer, while there'll be an impressive list of prizes for competing teams. There's room for 34 teams and space is limited. The cost is $700 per team or $175 per person and there are various group sponsorships available.

Foundation managing director Jodi Swan said the board is thrilled to have the paper as the charity golf tournament's presenting sponsor, adding the newspaper has made a very contribution to the foundation that will see it participate in all functions associated with the organization.

Since 1966, when it was created to raise funds for the Above & Beyond Campaign, the Highland Classic has raised in excess of $183,000 which has been used to forward the mission of the foundation, which is to enhance the ability to provide a high standard of health care to all residents of Cumberland County by raising funds and supporting new and improved services, programs, equipment and facilities.

Recently, the foundation announced $200,000 in funding for equipment purchases at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre and was also part of an announcement with the other county health care foundations and Cumberland Health Authority that will see bursaries provided to local students pursuing health care careers.

"We are so grateful for the support of the community in helping us fulfill our mission . We are continuing to provide high quality equipment, while at the same time providing funding for a number of very important projects such as the bursary program and volunteer services program", said Swan. "The Amherst Daily News has provided us with ongoing support that will help us enhance our ability to communicate with those who have vested interest in the Cumberland Health Care Foundation and for that, we are so appreciative.