Over $35,000 Raised This Season!

Amateur and professional golfers from all over Central Oregon raised more than $35,000 this year for MountainStar Family Relief Nursery through Birdies 4 Babies! Among the major birdie makers were golfers from Crosswater Golf Club, who donated more than $17,000 to MountainStar. According to Kim Rogers of Crosswater, “Both the men’s and ladies’ golf groups at Crosswater wanted to help children at high-risk for abuse and neglect and has whole-heartedly adopted Birdies 4 Babies.” “It’s fun to make a birdie, but also knowing that the birdie money raised is going to the aid of our community’s most vulnerable children makes the golfing experience much more gratifying.”

Also participating in Birdies 4 Babies this year were 50 golf professionals, who asked friends, family, golfing pals, students and club members to sponsor birdies they made while competing in Oregon PGA events. Futures Tour player, Taya Battistella, also participated in Birdies 4 Babies, raising more than $2,000 with the 156 birdies and 1 eagle scored in professional tournaments through October.

“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of the local golfing community,” says Tim Rusk, Executive Director of MountainStar. “In addition to bringing in critical dollars that support MountainStar’s programs, Birdies 4 Babies has helped create much needed public awareness for children and families who desperately need the services we provide.”

Birdies 4 Babies Golf Pros Competing in 2008 Pacific Northwest PGA Professional Championship

The following B4B golf professionals are competing this week at Tetherow Golf Club in the 2008 Pacific Northwest PGA Professional Championship:

Tony Blasius (Sunriver Resort)
Martin Chuck (Tetherow)
Tim Fraley (Awbrey Glen)
Bob Garza (Lost Tracks
Dan Ostrin (Widgi Creek)

The lowest 5 golfers at the end of the 54-hole tournament will advance to the 42nd National PGA Championship next June at Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. The top 5 golfers from that tournament will advance to the PGA Championship, one of golf's 4 major tournaments.

MountainStar sends good luck and "one putt wishes" to Tony, Martin, Tim, Bob and Dan!

Birdies 4 Babies Story on Duramed Futures Tour Website

On August 8th, the Duramed FUTURES Tour (http://duramedfuturestour.com) posted a story in the "Entertainment" section of the website called "Birdies 4 Babies - Player Charity Involvement". The story features B4B golf professional Taya Battistella. To read about Taya's accomplishments, here's the link:

http://duramedfuturestour.com/Entertainment/Features.asp?page=Features/FS080708.ssi

Crosswater Tees Up Golfing Season by Giving $4,000!

Members of Crosswater Club have already raised more than $4,000 for MountainStar's Birdies 4 Babies golfing fundraiser, and the season has just started!

From MountainStar Executive Director, Tim Rusk: "Given current economic challenges, at-risk children in Central Oregon are facing an even higher threat for abuse and neglect. Poverty, homelessness and unemployment are just 3 of the average 20 risk factors that many of the families served by MountainStar are dealing with on a daily basis. On behalf of the many vulnerable children in our community, we extend our deep appreciation and sincere thanks to the members of Crosswater for their generosity and ongoing support of our program."

Taya's Making Birdies!

B4B Golf Pro and Duramed Futures Tour player, Taya Battistella, has made 64 birdies in 9 events played this season, including posting 26 birdies in her last 3 events! Taya finished in the Top 10 (T8) at her last event, the Horseshoe Casino Classic at Lost Marsh Golf Course in Hammond, Indiana. If you would like to sponsor Taya in her B4B quest, please contact her at tayagolfs@yahoo.com.

Now in its 28th season, the Duramed FUTURES Tour (http://www.duramedfuturestour.com) has established itself as “the Road to the LPGA and Beyond,” and since 1999, it has been designated as the official developmental tour of the LPGA. More than 300 Duramed FUTURES Tour alumnae are LPGA members, and through 2007, alums have won a total of 330 LPGA victories and 35 major championships. Last year, tour alums won 15 of 32 LPGA tournaments and two of the four major championships.

50 Golf Pros on the Links with Birdies 4 Babies!

Fifty golf professionals are participating in MountainStar's fourth annual Birdies 4 Babies™ season-long golfing fundraiser. Participating this year are golf pros from Aspen Lakes (Derek Johnson and Matt Phillips), Awbrey Glen Golf Club (Tim Fraley, Rick Gloor, Al Fortier and Steve Ho’okano), Bend Golf and Country Club (Erik Nielsen, Todd Kruse, Corey Lackaff and Brandon Jackson), Brasada Ranch (Zach Swoffer and Dan Wendt), Broken Top Club (Chad Stoddard and Greg Robbins), Crosswater Club (Brad Myrick, Josh Willis and Louis Bennett), Eagle Crest Resort (Ron Buerger, Howie Pruitt, Candace Brink, Tam Bronkey and Jeff Glodt), Juniper Golf (Bruce Wattenburger and Bob Duncan), Lost Tracks (Bob Garza), Pronghorn Club (Michael Marion, Mike Lewis, Nolan Halterman, Adam Bowen, Justin Thayer and Randy Ballard), River’s Edge (Troy Eckberg and Brett Fanning), Sunriver Resort (Tony Blasius, Mike Palen, Matt Scott, Chris Points, Tom Whittemore, Kyle Johnson, Jason Van Nice, Meghan Dobbins, Lynn Neeman and Klint Neeman, Tetherow (Martin Chuck and Caleb Anderson) and Widgi Creek Golf Club (Dan Ostrin, Josh Bowles and Ted Taylor.) Also participating is Futures Tour player, Taya Battistella, and Tualatin Golf Club golf professional, Scott Rath.


Erik Nielsen and Brandon Jackson
Bend Golf and Country Club









Ron Buerger and Howie Pruitt
Eagle Crest








The golf professionals are inviting club members, students, friends, family and golfing buddies to make donations for each birdie (one under par) they make while competing in Oregon PGA (Professional Golf Association) events and other special events held during 2008. Ms. Battistella, a graduate of Summit High School in Bend and three-time winner of the Oregon State Class 4A High School Championships (1996-1998), is seeking sponsors for birdies and eagles (two under par) that she makes while competing in 2008 Futures Tour (LPGA Development Tour) events.

If you would like to become a Birdies 4 Babies sponsor for any participating golf professionals, please contact them directly or contact MountainStar at 541-322-6820.

2008 Birdies 4 Babies Golfing Fundraiser Off to a Great Start!

MountainStar Family Relief Nursery has kicked off its 4th annual season-long Birdies 4 Babies golfing fundraiser. Proceeds from Birdies 4 Babies will support MountainStar’s child abuse and neglect prevention program that serves at-risk families with babies and toddlers. The Birdies 4 Babies event invites golfers of all abilities, from beginners to professionals, to collect money for birdies (one under PAR) and for other great golf shots made during the 2008 golfing season. Each golfer is asked to donate their "birdie money" to MountainStar. B4B golfers are asked to send a check for birdie money collected directly to MountainStar or bring a check to the B4B Celebration Party given for B4B participants at the end of the golfing season. The B4B Celebration Party is scheduled on Oct. 28, 2008.

Last year (2007), more than $25,000 was raised through Birdies 4 Babies in support of the children and families of MountainStar. Men and women golfers throughout Deschutes County participated. In addition 26 local golf pros became “Professional B4B Birdiemakers”.

The 2008 Birdies 4 Babies fundraising goal is to raise over $25,000, plus additional matching funds for MountainStar. To learn more about MountainStar, check out www.mountainstarfamily.org. Better yet, come take a one-hour informational tour of the relief nursery. Tours are scheduled on the first Tuesday of every month (5:00-6:00 p.m.) and on the 3rd Friday of every month (12:30-1:30 p.m.).

To receive a Birdies 4 Babies fundraising kit, including a B4B tag to hang on your golf bag, please contact MountainStar at 541-322-6820.