Mark Joy Memorial money stays in Clintonville
By Bert Lehman
The 10th annual Mark Joy Memorial golf outing, held Saturday, Sept. 19 at Riverside Golf Course, included 33 four-person teams, and raised $6,640 for local organizations.
Chris Joy, organizer of the event, said the first event was held 10 years ago after his dad, Mark Joy, was diagnosed with cancer.
“He was on the committee to raise money for the [high school] football stadium,” Chris said. “He kind of felt bad because of how sick he was that he really couldn’t do much anymore, so I did a golf outing and raised some money.”
Chris said his dad was pleased with the first event.
“He was proud of all the people that got involved in the outing and raised that much money in that short of time,” Chris said.
Chris said his dad was also a firm believer that if a community comes together it can accomplish anything. And that he strived on accomplishing things people told him weren’t possible.
“He didn’t like to hear it, but he liked to show people it can be done,” Chris said.
Chris added, “He hated hearing ‘We’re a small town. We can’t do this.’”
Mark Joy passed away a few months after the first event was held.
After the death of his dad, Chris said there was never a doubt as to whether the event would continue.
“One thing I stressed is I want to keep this going every year,” Chris said.
The goal each year is to honor his dad and to raise money for local organizations.
“My dad was always a huge supporter of all the sports and music programs and a firm believer in some of these extracurricular activities. Also how it really enhances the youth and their experience through high school and even younger,” Chris said.
In addition to raising money for good causes, Chris said he wants the event each year to be fun.
“We try to have really good quality prizes. We have a DJ afterwards so it’s a full day, full night event and people really enjoy it,” Chris said.
He said the event has a class reunion-type atmosphere, adding that between 80-90 percent of the golfers return the following year.
New this year was a costume contest. Chris said a few teams in the past had dressed in costumes for the event, so this year a costume contest was held. The theme of the costume contest was sports movies.
“Everyone had a really good time with it,” Chris said. “The people who did dress up did a really good job. And it added to the atmosphere.”
He added, “I want to have a fun atmosphere but at the end everybody still knows what the message is and what our goal is.”
The winner of the costume contest was the team who had a Field of Dreams theme. They dressed as baseball players, and adorned their golf carts with corn stalks.
“That was a pretty cool idea,” Chris said.
Chris said it means a lot to him to have the community support the event.
“It means I’m showing the community what my dad wanted the community to always understand, if we come together, what we can accomplish,” Chris said.
Chris said he is also honored to be able to help the community.
“It means I’m carrying out my dad’s legacy,” Chris said. “I just hope that the kids we’re helping out understand what goes into it and how the community is rallying around them.”
Prior to the start of golfing, Chris made presentations to the organizations receiving money this year.
The Wise Guys program received $1,000. The Clintonville Jazz Band received $3,300 for a new drum set. Clintonville High School Track and Field received $4,000 to be used for pole vault pits. The Clintonville Area Swim team received $2,000.
Next year’s event is scheduled for Sept. 17, 2016.