17th Ben Wright International Challenge Cup

Upstate companies rally once again to show support
   
SPARTANBURG, SC – May 8, 2012 – Two hundred golfers will take to the links on Friday, May 11 in an effort to feed the hungry as they take part in the 17th  annual Ben Wright International Challenge Cup, the largest fundraiser for Mobile Meals of Spartanburg. 

The teams are comprised of representatives from national and international companies, most of which are located here in the Upstate but some traveling as far away as Ohio and Madison Heights, MI.

The golfers will play at The Carolina Country Club and The Spartanburg Country Club. Congressman Trey Gowdy will speak at a pre-tournament reception on Thursday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m. at The Carolina Country Club.

Last year the Ben Wright International Challenge Cup brought in $390,000 and so far this year the tournament has $350,000 in commitments. 

“The Ben Wright International Challenge Cup continues to be the largest fund raiser for Mobile Meals of Spartanburg,” said Jayne McQueen, President and CEO of Mobile Meals. “Even in times of economic hardship companies and ICC Committee have really rallied around our ministry to make this event as successful as in previous years.” 

Ben Wright stated, “The fact that millions of dollars have been raised in the span of 16 years is something that I am inordinately proud of, as should be everyone even remotely concerned with the project.” 

The leadership of Jack Robinson, retired President of Precision Bearing and Tournament Founder, along with Ken Couch, Honorary Event Chairman; Mike Hall, Event Chairman; Koger Bradfor and Jon Godfrey, Solicitation Co-Chairman; Bill Mayrose, Tournament Director; and the 30 businessmen and women who serve on the solicitation committee has helped to ensure that Mobile Meals will be able to feed the seniors and homebound in Spartanburg County.

Mobile Meals is one of the partners with the BMW Charities Pro Am, which will be held the following week. In addition to supporting Mobile Meals through sponsorships and donations the local business community provides many volunteers to help with meal delivery each day.

Ken Couch, President of Smith Drug Company explains that the involvement of Smith Drug Company and J M Smith Corporation just makes sense. 

“Mobile Meals was one of Mr. Smith’s favorite charities and one of the four tenants of our company doing business is to be a good and gracious corporate citizen.  There is no better way to be a gracious corporate citizen than to help ensure that deserving and needy people will have a smiling face deliver a warm meal to them each day.  We are proud to be a part of Mobile Meals.”

About Mobile Meals of Spartanburg
Mobile Meals of Spartanburg is a 501(c)(3) organization that delivers approximately between 1,500 and 1800 warm meals, five days a week, to the homebound of Spartanburg County and in addition provides the services of home-visiting nurses and a chaplain.  Mobile Meals of Spartanburg receives no government funding but relies on the private sector to meet our $2 million annual budget.