Billy Casper Golf Classic

Thanks to the donations from a new tournament hosted by golf legend Billy Casper, more Utah County children will receive the medical treatment they desperately need.

The inaugural Billy Casper Golf Classic, sponsored by the Utah Valley Healthcare Foundation, raised more than $60,000. These funds will directly benefit families of patients in the neonatal and pediatric units at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center who are unable, or who can only partially pay for required medical bills. The event was held in September at the Riverside Country Club in Provo. Billy Casper, a local golf professional and winner of 51 PGA tour victories, was present at the tournament along with his son and grandson. The tournament consisted of 34 foursomes and included cash prizes, prize drawings and several hole-in-one prizes on various holes.

Utah Valley Healthcare Foundation, which supports Utah Valley Regional, Orem Community Hospital and American Fork Hospital, organizes fundraising opportunities including capital campaigns, major events, memorial and planned giving programs. These opportunities result in funds available for financial assistance, life saving equipment and other medical care for families in our community.

“We are grateful for the participation and generous contributors that made this tournament possible,” Casper said. “It was a beautiful day for golf and a privilege to honor some of the families that have received help.”

One of those families was the Blumel family of Orem. When they learned their daughter, Jill, would be hospitalized with a life-threatening infection, their first thoughts were for her recovery, and secondly, the cost of treatment.

Jill was diagnosed with double pneumonia and after further testing, Lemierre’s Syndrome. Through additional procedures and surgeries, a blood clot was discovered in her neck. Jill spent the next 17 days in the hospital and additional time at home recovering. “I was in an extremely scary condition,” Jill said. “I wouldn't be here without the facilities and the doctors, surgeons and nurses.”

Utah Valley Regional gave financial assistance to the Blumel family in order to help with Jill’s medical bills. In 2010, the hospital provided more than $1.1 million in pediatric and neonatal financial assistance to individuals in the community.

Kim Nielsen, director of major gifts for Utah Valley Healthcare Foundation, said this new event brings out a different opportunity to contribute and give back to the community and those who are desperately in need of healthcare services.

Plans to hold the 2nd Annual Billy Casper Golf Classic next summer are in place. If you would like to reserve a place in the tournament, and for a complete list of events and opportunities to donate, visit Utah Valley’s Healthcare Foundation website at intermountainhealthcare.org/communitysupport/giving/uvfoundation/Pages/home.aspx or call (801) 357-7600. Other opportunities and additional information can be found on the Utah Valley Regional’s home page at utahvalley.org.

The Utah Valley Healthcare Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of patient care in the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, Orem Community Hospital and American Fork Hospitals, as well as improving the health of those living in our communities. Programs and institutions, including the Huntsman-Intermountain Cancer Center at American Fork Hospital, Utah Valley Regional Emergency and Trauma Services Expansion, Newborn Intensive Care Services, Pediatric Rehabilitation, the Family Guest House and Children's Health programs, have been maintained and created by the foundation.