Putt-Putt: Helping Others

The Jesuit High School Key Club's 19th annual Putt-Putt Fundraiser on Feb. 3 was a great time for a fantastic cause.

This year's Putt-Putt, at Grand Prix Tampa, was dedicated to helping families of children with cancer, and the event raised $7,100 for the Children's Cancer Center in Tampa.

Key Club officers, members, and supporters, along with two special guests from the Children's Cancer Center, a girl named Riley and the center's events coordinator, Brittany Rudolph, enjoyed the array of activities at Grand Prix Tampa, including go kart racing on the big track, indoor games, and, of course, mini golf.

The Putt-Putt Fundraiser was supported by several sponsors, including the Kiwanis of Tampa (Kiwanis area advisor Marty Koscso attended the event), McConnie Fence Company, Mavilo Diamonds and Jewelry, Pediatric Health Care Alliance, and Gaylord, Merlin, Ludovici and Diaz Eminent Domain Lawyers.

Founded in 1974, the Children's Cancer Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving families of children who have cancer or chronic blood disorders with emotional, financial, and educational support necessary to cope with their life-threatening illness. The children come to the facility for treatments, therapy, and enrichment. With over 24 support programs and services currently helping over 1,000 families, support is offered to all members of the family and is available throughout every step of their difficult journey. 

Leading the event organizing and fundraising was Key Club president Kyle Erickson '18 along with vice president Joe McGonnigal '18, secretaries Matthew Groteke '18 and Kevin Mendez '18, editor Sean Doherty '20, treasurer Tyler Petitt '19, web master Christian Jung '18, and Lt. Gov. Florida District 14B Thomas Turner '19.

The mini golf competition was won by the four-man squad of McGonnigal, Erickson, Harrison Sauter '18, and Joshua Cruz '18 with a team score of 211. Jesuit president Fr. Richard C. Hermes, S.J. served as honorary course marshal, monitoring the mini golf action.

View a photo slideshow of the 2018 Putt-Putt Fundraiser below: