In 2002, after Canada’s Double Gold Medal win in hockey at Salt Lake City, a group of friends and associates who gather regularly in Muskoka were discussing the tremendous victory.  The conversation quickly changed to the comparison of annual incomes between the members of the Men’s Olympic Team and the Women’s Olympic Team.  After looking into further, we found the difference to be millions and millions of dollars.  We also heard about some of the personal hardships of the young women who were training to get to the Olympic in Torino, Italy in 2006.

The concept of a 3 day Golf Tournament in the Heart of Muskoka  was hatched!  Windermere House, overlooking Lake Rosseau, was selected as the venue of choice.  Celebrities were solicited to lend their names to the event and the 1st Annual Windermere Good as Gold Open was well under way (see www.goodasgoldopen.ca).

In October of 2005, Tim Harrison, as Chairman of the Good as Gold Open, was asked to help the Team and Hockey Canada with the Olympic “Friends and Family Program”.  This is a program initiated by the Canadian Olympic Committee to aid the parents and families of Olympic bound athletes by securing housing and transportation when visiting Olympic cities during the Games. 

Soliciting the help of fellow Good as Gold Open Board Members, Anne Marren and Brian McComb, the three established the Ladies First Hockey Foundation.  The immediate mandate of the Foundation was to establish a vehicle that would aid the parents of the 2006 Olympic Team.  This meant fundraising to help with travel and accommodation costs, arranging hotels and busses while in Italy and helping to offset the cost of game tickets, etc.  In doing this, the athletes could remain focused on their goal of “Bringing Home the Gold”….knowing their loved ones were well looked after.

The Ladies First Hockey Foundation stages two events annually.  The summer event is the Good as Gold Open that has been hosted by Windermere House for the last 5 years…..and has been tremendously successful.  In 2008, the 6th Annual Good as Gold Open was hosted by Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville where we continued with the success of the golf tournament ...and even surpassed it!  To-date, the golf tournament has raised over $500,000 which has gone directly to the members of the National Team.   The Foundation also has a winter fundraising event which has enjoyed much success providing funds to the family and friends of the Team Members. 

Our winter event, Sips, Sticks & Stilettos will be held:

Toronto on Thursday, February 26th, 2009
at The National Club
(click here for more information)

Edmonton on Tuesday, March 10th, 2009
at Ernest’s Dining Room at NAIT
(click here for more information)

RESERVE TODAY……you won’t want to miss it!

 

Our summer event, the Good as Gold Open will be held:

June 19th, 20th and 21st, 2009
at Deerhurst Resort
(click here for more information)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR NEXT YEAR!