THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 13, 1996 TAG: 9603120133
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GREG BURT, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Community events have a way of uniting diverse groups of people when a good cause is at stake, which explains the new partnership formed between a chain-saw company, seven golf courses and mentally handicapped children.
Stihl, a German-owned chain-saw company in Virginia Beach, is teaming up with Virginia Beach Jaycees and Cox Cable to sponsor a fund-raising golf tournament to send mentally handicapped children and adults to summer camp.
The kick off tournament, ``Stihl Aces for the Kids,'' will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at Honey Bee Golf Course, but the campaign will continue through Memorial Day.
Anyone can participate in the tournament, which will include a continental breakfast, lunch and goody bags as well as a variety of golf prizes. The most esteemed prize will be awarded for scoring a hole in one. Stihl has pledged to send one camper to camp for every person who achieves this golfing feat.
Because the odds of getting a hole in one are quite rare, Stihl has extended the challenge to any golfer who sinks this shot between St. Patrick's Day and Memorial Day at selected local golf courses. Red Wing Golf Course, Broad Bay Country Club, Cavalier Country Club, Princess Anne Country Club, Stumpy Lake Golf Course and Cypress Point Country Club are all participating.
By looking at last year's hole-in-one stats of the area, Stihl president Fred J. Whyte said, ``We are looking to sending 40 to 50 kids to camp.''
A fun-filled week is planned for mentally handicapped campers at Camp Virginia Jaycee in Bedford County at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The camp activities include swimming, horseback riding, arts and crafts as well experiencing the traditional campfire cookout complete with roasted marshmallows.
Stihl began its production plant here in Virginia Beach in 1974 and budgets money annually for community projects like this one and for other charitable causes. This year, Whyte wanted to do something more than just simply write a check.
``I thought it was good to get some involvement not only from Stihl, our employees, but to build some community relationships as well rather than just sending a check in the mail,'' said Whyte. He also hopes community events like this one will help restore the sense of community he believes has dissipated because of the busyness and transience of modern life.
As a wholly owned subsidiary of its parent company in Waiblingen, Germany, Stihl employs 650 people on 52 acres off Lynnhaven Parkway in the Oceana West Industrial Park. With continued growth over the years, Stihl has become the largest and most modern chain saw and trimmer manufacturing plant in the United States. ILLUSTRATION: FOR MORE INFO
The golf tournament is open to the public. Fees are $65 per
golfer or $120 for a two-person team. To register, call Curtis P.
Goettel at 463-7247. To receive a camp scholarship for a mentally
handicapped family member or friend, call Beth Stevens with Virginia
Beach Jaycees at 499-8822.
by CNB