2011 Zak!Charity Open a Huge Success!

For many children across the Inland Northwest, hope is a rare treasure. For these children, the reality of the cancer they are battling, or the economic conditions they are struggling against, is so much more powerful than the promise of hope. Thanks to the Zak!Charity Open, however, hope can once again be something worth believing in for many of these children.

 The 2011 Zak!Charity Open raised more than $435,000 to benefit the Rypien Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County, bringing the total amount raised in the tournament’s 12-year history to more than $3 million! 

“The fact that we were able to surpass this milestone in a year where many people and businesses are still struggling to recover from the tough economic times we’ve faced in the past few years is a testament to the generosity and selflessness of this community, our sponsors, donors and volunteers,” said Irv Zakheim, founder of the Zak!Charity Open.

For the second year in a row, the Zak!Charity Open included two separate golf tournaments – one at Spokane Country Club and the other at Manito Golf & Country Club. In addition, the two-day event included a dinner and auction at Northern Quest Casino Resort & Casino.

Proceeds from the event will help the Rypien Foundation and its mission to provide hope to families in the Inland Northwest with children who suffer from cancer, as well as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County and their pledge to provide the hope and opportunity kids need to succeed.

“Sometimes, all these kids need is a little reminder of just how powerful hope can be,” Zakheim said. “When you get the opportunity to give them some of that hope, it really is magical.”