Meet Melinda Bailey, a Birdies 4 Babies Participant and Classroom Volunteer

Just ask Melinda Bailey, and she would tell you that she looks forward to every Tuesday, the day she volunteers to work with babies and children in MountainStar’s therapeutic classroom. The "therapeutic classroom" at MountainStar creates a safe, predictable, empowering environment where at-risk, distressed infants and children in our community can thrive.

Supervised by MountainStar teachers, (called “interventionists”), Melinda provides children with special attention, which helps them develop stronger social, emotional, motor and cognitive skills that will follow them throughout their lives. Through the dedicated support from classroom volunteers such as Melinda, MountainStar is able to address a child’s specific issues and developmental delays and maintain a highly individualized ratio of 3 children to 1 program staff/volunteer.

In addition to her volunteer work, Melinda is passionate about golf. As one of the founders of Birdies 4 Babies, Melinda has actively promoted the B4B fundraiser at Widgi Creek Golf Club, introducing the “3-Putt (PP) Pot” and “Birdie Pot” to the Widgi Creek Women’s Golf Association. (Ladies donate $ to MountainStar for 3-putts and birdies made during weekly play days.)

Melinda is shown here with Josh Bowles, a B4B Golf Professional from Widgi Creek Golf Club. They are standing behind Widgi's 3-Putt (PPP) Pot and Birdie Pot.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities at MountainStar, please contact Patricia Nehl at 541-322-6820 or email her at patrician@mountainstarfamily.org.

Birdies 4 Babies Golf Season Has Begun!

GREAT MINDS

Back in 2005, MountainStar Board Members Kathy Murch and Joanne Michael and their golfing buddies decided at the beginning of the golf season to collect their birdie money and donate it to MountainStar Family Relief Nursery. They named their little fundraiser Birdies 4 Babies. At the end of that golf season, they donated more than $500 to MountainStar.

AND THEY TELL SOMEONE

In 2006, Kathy, Joanne and their friends rolled out Birdies 4 Babies to the larger community, attracting golfers from Crosswater and Widgi Creek, as well as support from local golf professionals, including Bob Garza of Lost Tracks, Tim Fraley of Awbrey Glen and Greg Robbins of Broken Top.

THE PROS DELIVER

Bob Garza, Tim Fraley and Greg Robbins each asked friends, family, club members and other sponsors to make a donation for each birdie they made while playing in Oregon PGA and other professional golfing events. Together, the three golf pros made 93 birdies and raised more than $8,300 for MountainStar.

CENTRAL OREGON IS INFECTED

At the end of the 2006 season, golfers raised more than $15,000 for MountainStar. Among the major birdie makers were golfers from Crosswater Golf Club, who donated over $2,300.

THE FIRE SPREADS

This season, Birdies 4 Babies has been rolled out to additional golf courses here in Central Oregon. The "Birdies Goal" for 2007 is to raise over $25,000 for MountainStar. We will report on the teams who are making the most birdies and other "Birdie Updates." Stay tuned!