The Ballard High School Foundation is hosting its 11th annual Ballard High School Golf Classic on August 1st and 2nd to benefit Ballard High School's music and sports programs, and honor old friends.

The music program receives no funding from the Seattle Public Schools and funding for athletics barely covers transportation costs. The golf tournament brings out around 300 people each year and the goal for this year is to raise $200,000, said Sue Verduin, the golf tournament's co-chair.

The Golf Classic was founded by Gary Seefriend and Victor Salvino in 2001 and has become the single most important fundraiser event for Ballard High School throughout the year.

"We said we would run the tournament and would raise $20, 000 for Ballard High Athletics and Music. We had over 140 golfers and raised $52,000 [in 2001]," " said Salvino. " I feel like we have established the golf tournament and grown the golf tournament almost every year in spite of the recession."

This year’s event is honoring two individuals that were very influential in the BHS and Ballard communities, Sir Jim Vatn and Janet Rodgers.

"They are both very deserving and then some to be honored at the tournament," Salvino said.

Vatn graduated from BHS in 1962. Not only was Vatn very involved in many organizations in the Ballard community, he also gave his time and talents to his alma mater. Over the years he was known as "The Voice of the Beavers" and "Mr. Ballard".

"Jim was a 62' alum with a passion for Ballard High School. He passed along his desire to me to enhance BHS," Salvino said.

Salvino has given generously to BHS, funding strength training for a year at $1500 per month and buying $50,000 worth of equipment.

"I have a banner in the gym and the alumni room is named after me, ideas that [Vatn] believed would enhance gifting to Ballard High School," Salvino said.

Janet Rodgers was the director of the BHS Foundation for many years and worked on countless projects benefitting BHS students and the entire Ballard community.

"Janet was the glue we needed in the Foundation to keep everything together. She kept me well informed of the Foundation activities and the need to raise funds," Salvino said.

Rodgers and Vatn were both involved in the Golf Classic each year and Verduin said losing them was the biggest hurdle organizers had to overcome in planning the tournament this year.

"Jim and Janet gave so much of themselves to this tournament and to Ballard High School," Verduin said. "They both showed such leadership and inspired so many of us to get involved.  My only regret was the short time that I knew both of them. "

In the past ten years, the tournament has been a good competition that some players take quite serious, Verduin said.

"There some great awards and prizes for the first and second place winners," Verduin said. "Also, there are prizes for fun items like poker, “closest to the pin”, “longest drive” and many great raffle items."
 
Neither Verduin nor Salvino were willing to make a projection on who will win the tournament this year.

"It's a new year and anything can happen," Verduin said.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Golf Club at Newcastle will host the event starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, August 1, with a dinner and auction. The emcee for the evening event will be BHS’ own Bob Flick (Class of 1956) of the Brothers Four band. The tournament will kick off on the morning of Tuesday, August 2, with registration beginning at 7:00 a.m. and the 18-hole shotgun starting at 10:00 a.m.

For more information, please visit www.bhsgolfclassic.com.