Our Chief Development Officer, Kari Hopkins, tells the story of how Larry Gross helped turn our annual Golf Tournament into one of our largest annual fundraising events:
Nine years ago, I reported that a golf tournament benefit had raised $2,000 for Coyote Hill. Larry Gross, a Board Member at the time, said, “We can do better than that.”
This was the beginning of a decade of phone calls, hand-written letters, hole sponsor signs, and diligence that resulted in raising nearly $600,000 for children in foster care.
Larry Gross was the catalyst that elevated our Golf Tournament to a major fundraiser for Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries. He led the committee, called hundreds of businesses and individuals, and donated countless hours. His passion turned our Golf Tournament into a premiere event in Columbia, Missouri.
Some of my favorite memories working with Larry are delivering envelopes and registration forms to his home for him to personally sign and mail to friends and colleagues. He believed within his core that Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries was doing essential work for children, so everyone else should be a part of it too.
~~Kari Hopkins
Despite having to cancel the tournament this year, we have still taken Larry’s approach to personally calling past golfers and hole sponsors to give toward this year’s Putt for Kids Challenge. His work to help Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries raise nearly $600,000 meant that for the last 9 years, over 450 children were given a safe home. Larry’s legacy of service and giving toward the Golf Tournament are unmatched.
A Note from Our Chief Executive Officer
“The impact of Larry Gross on Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries and our services to children from hard places has been extraordinary and invaluable. His leadership of the annual golf tournament not only made it possible for us to help more children in need, but his walking alongside us through the years made us better people and the community of Columbia a better place.” ~~Larry McDaniel
