The Tee It Up for Campers committee of volunteers hosted its annual golf tournament and wine tasting fundraisers for the nonprofit True Friends. According to a press release the events were very fun and successful, raising a combined total of $22,500 for True Friends which is a new personal record for the committee.

This year marked the 16th Tee It Up for Campers golf tournament, which over the years has provided funding for much needed facility upgrades, equipment and over $130,000 in camper scholarships. A majority of the funds raised from this summer will be used to provide scholarships for local kids and adults with disabilities to attend True Friends camps where they grow in independence and self-esteem. Twenty-five percent of the funds will be used towards the Peace Warrior Project, a newly launched veterans program at Camp Courage which utilizes equine-assisted therapy, adventure learning and high ropes challenge course.

True Friends has a variety of programs for kids and adults with disabilities including camping, therapeutic horseback riding and travel. People of all ability levels have the opportunity to go fishing, tubing, horseback riding and zip lining.

Over the summer, True Friends completed the construction of a one-of-a-kind wheelchair accessible high ropes course and zipline at Camp Courage. Many members of the Tee It Up for Campers committee visited Camp Courage to see the camp in action and to try the zip line. Joining the Tee It Up For Campers committee, a committee member from the LeVerne Carlson Foundation, Dick Thunstedt, also toured the camp and tried the zip line. Thunstedt set the record for the oldest person to go down the zip line, at 95 years old!

According to a press release, True Friends is so grateful for the continued support of the Tee It Up for Campers committee.

“Tee It Up for Campers is an outstanding supporter of True Friends,” Ed Stracke, president and CEO of True Friends said, “I went to the golf tournament and had a great time! They are a really great group of kind and generous people and we are so thankful for them.”

True Friends is a nonprofit agency providing life-changing experiences that enhance independence and self-esteem for nearly 4,000 children and adults with disabilities annually. True Friends’ programs include camp, respite, therapeutic horseback riding, travel and team building. Locations include Camp Courage near Maple Lake, Camp Friendship near Annandale and Camp Eden Wood in Eden Prairie. For more information visit www.TrueFriends.org or call 952-852-0101.