To the editor:

Thanks to numerous supporters of the eighth annual Chieftain Golf Outing, held on June 16 at Indian Lake Hills Golf Course, the Dowagiac Athletic Booster Club will start the 2011-2012 school year in good shape by splitting the outing profits with the Dowagiac Schools Foundation.

The outing raised more than $20,000 after expenses.

The success of the Chieftain outing would not be possible without the support of the community of Dowagiac.

This year there were 14 Gold Sponsors: Burling and Gillesby, DDS, PC. Dr. Matthew V. Cripe, Dowagiac Union Schools Administration Team, Fanning and Howey, Fifth Third Bank, GLP and Associates, Huntington Bank, Janel’s Industries Inc., Southwestern Michigan College, Sodexho, St. Denys Foundation, U.S. Business Systems, KitchenAid and Wolverine Mutual Insurance Co.

Contributing at the Silver Sponsor level were: Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, Pinnacle Insurance Partners, Dowsett Chiropractic, the Hassle family, Honor Credit Union, Lyons Industries, Michigan Army National Guard, Pri-Mar Petroleum, Premier Photography, Stauder, Barch and Associates and Terry Ausra Farms.

There were 36 Bronze Sponsors that supported the outing.

These were: A.V.B., Alta Equipment Co., Berrybrook Enterprises, Bittner, Hyrns, Daly Reimland, PC, Casual Tees, Central Produce, Booth’s Country Florist, Creative Vinyl, Cressy and Everett (S. Myers-Henry), Deals on Wheels, Division Tire, Dowagiac Education Association, Dowagiac Area Federal Credit Union, Eckman Chiropractic, Edward Jones, Enjoyment Image, Envirosafe, First Choice Automotive, Garage Doors Plus More, Haas Systems, Hagen Insurance Agency, JSB Investments, J&E Lawn Care, Lawrence Law Office, Mahar Insurance Agency, Mike’s Sporting Goods, Preferred Printing, Reliable Disposal, Ridge Co., Rohdy’s Heating and Cooling, Schaffer and Layer, SET-SEG Inc., Vylonis Contracting, Wolverine Electric, Yazel and Clark Funeral Home and Wood Fire.

Each year in May, the Booster Club awards many scholarships.

Two years ago we instituted a Scholarship Sponsor to provide additional monies to student-athletes who are pursuing a higher education.

This year, K&M Machine-Fabricating, Hale’s Hardware and Turf Services were all scholarship sponsors.

The money from these sponsorships will be awarded at the All Sports Banquet in the spring.

Thank you also to Bud Distributing, Creative Vinyl, Dowagiac Commercial Press, Doubleday Office Products, Bob Follett, Hannapel Home Center, Indian Lake Hills, Scott Novak, Pepsi, Eric Stovern and Charles Ross, CPA.

Also, thank you to the many businesses that provided prizes for our outing this year.

Many of the DUS staff members, Booster Club members and foundation members either golfed or worked at the outing, which facilitates a smoothly-run event.

The money raised helps the student-athlete and the sports teams, so we appreciate those athletes who were on hand as greeters and the coaches who golfed or worked.

The Chieftain Outing, in its first eight years, has raised more than $200,000 for the students and student-athletes at Dowagiac.

We plan to continue this tradition and have already set the date for 2012.

On Thursday, June 14, 2012, the ninth annual Chieftain Golf Outing will take place at Indian Lake Hills Golf Course.

Mark your calendar. If you want to be included as a sponsor or a golfer, contact Booster Club President Beth Cripe, Dowagiac Union Schools Foundation President Tom Carlson, Athletic Director Scott Lawler or Booster Club Treasurer Jodi Badder.

Beth Cripe

President

Athletic Booster Club