Thousands raised for Kirchner School

The H. Kenneth Kirchner School for the Severely Disabled raised about $5,000 during its annual golf tournament fundraiser.

For the past four years Premier Property Services has put on the golf tournament to provide supplemental funds to the school for technology updates, classroom equipment and field trips, said office manager Chelsi Hake. It's the school's largest fundraiser of the year and also supports Kirchner's sister school, the Dogwood Hills State School in Eldon.

Hake said Premier Property Services started donating supplies for the school playground around nine years ago when the godson of the company's owner started attending Kirchner. The idea for a golf tournament came about after they heard the school had a slim budget from the state.

"We had a lot of guys here who are golfers, and we decided to see how it would go and if we could put on a tournament that was successful," Hake said.

The tournament has grown from its first year, and this year about 120 golfers turned out for the event. Hake plays a big hand in organizing the tournament, and her favorite part is seeing the funds materialize into school trips and needed equipment.

"More than anything, I like that we get to do stuff with the kids," she said. "I usually end up going along on a lot of the field trips or going to the Christmas party. I really like hanging out with the kids. They're all so sweet and happy all the time. And even when they're not they're all just so pure of heart, they don't know any bad. They're all just good. They make you grateful for what you do have."

Paula Haner, principal for Kirchner and Dogwood, said one of her favorite parts of the fundraiser are the golfers who come to the tournament every year to support the school.

"We have the kids come (to the fundraiser)," Haner said. "Some of the parents bring their kids, and it's neat to see them there interacting with the golfers. In years past there's even been a slide show of our kids, which is really cool.

"We've made posters and had the kids display some of their art. It's just neat to have support. A lot of people don't know about our school."

Two years ago the school was able to purchase a SMART board from the money raised and has since purchased equipment to support the SMART board and other classroom supplies. They've taken the students to Wonderland Camp and on other excursions that likely wouldn't be possible without the fundraiser.

Hake said they plan to host the tournament again next year.