EAU CLAIRE — The Dowagiac Athletic Booster Club and Dowagiac Schools’ Foundation pulled off yet another successful Chieftain Golf Outing.

The ninth annual event drew more than 150 golfers to Indian Lake Hills Golf Course last Thursday.

The event has raised more than $185,000 in its first eight years for the two organizations that help fund both athletic and academic projects for the Dowagiac Union Schools.

Money is raised through various levels of sponsorships and the generosity of the golfers who attend.

The outing also features a hole-in-one contest, longest drive and closest to the pin contests for both men and women, but also raises money through the purchase of mulligans and a silent auction.

Among this year’s sponsors were:

• Matthew V. Cripe, DDS

• Janel’s Industries, Inc.

• Burling and Gillesby, DDS

• Sodexho

• Wolverine Mutual Insurance

• KitchenAid

• Southwestern Michigan College

• Fanning/Howey Associates, Inc.

• D.U.S. Administrative Team

• Fifth Third Bank

• St. Denys Foundation

• U.S. Business Systems, Inc.

Through the efforts of the golf outing, the foundation have been able to sponsor such events as the senior citizen lunches and the Iditarod Race classroom project, as well as send students to experience first-hand the Potawatomi Zoo, a symphony at the Mendel Center, Sarrett Nature Center, the Kalamazoo Public Museum and the Van Buren Intermediate School District Vo-Tech Center.

The Athletic Boosters have been able to support many capital equipment purchases and continue to support the coaching staff as they attend conferences and clinics. Each year, four athletic scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors.