MCA of Kansas City Selects Father’s Club to Benefit from Charity Golf Event

By Mike Davisson, Executive Director/Olathe Regional Director for Father’s Club

The Mechanical Contractors Association of Kansas City (MCAKC) represents the most competent, professional, safety-conscious, and cutting-edge mechanical contractors in the nation. Their member firms combine the best project management talent in the industry with the highly skilled and trained workforce of the United Association Plumbers & Gasfitters Local 8 & Pipe Fitters Local 533.

Each year, MCAKC selects a Kansas City Area nonprofit to be the sole beneficiary of funds raised from its annual charity golf outing.

Past organizations include:

Giving the Basics, Fight Dirty Foundation, Care Beyond the Boulevard, BoysGrow, Kansas City Free Eye Clinic, Kansas City Rescue Mission, Variety Kansas City, Farmer’s House of Weston, Community Assistance Council, Operation Breakthrough, Down Syndrome of Greater Kansas City, Lake Mary Center, Children’s Center for the Visually Blind, ALS Association of Kansas City, Children’s Mercy Hospital, and Susan G. Komen Foundation of Kansas City.

Since 2007, they’ve raised about $450,000 for area nonprofits.

The Background

After their annual tournament in 2023, I was made aware of MCAKC and their philanthropic efforts by Chris McCall, Olathe East HS Father’s Club dad. Chris was an Associate Member who had played in the tournament on multiple occasions in the past and felt there would be a great partnership opportunity for Father’s Club.

I reached out via email to the Executive Director, Stacy Zerr and Deputy Executive Director, Jacki Conn, to ask for the opportunity to share more about Father’s Club and inquire as to what it would take to be considered as a future beneficiary of the annual golf tournament fundraiser. Conversations began in May of 2024 with questions about Father’s Club and our needs for future funds. With a MCAKC workforce consisting of about 90% men, Father’s Club was a logical option for consideration.

Father’s Club focuses on DAD involvement and Mental Wellness training. These were key contributors to being selected as this year’s beneficiary. I shared a little about Father’s Club and our journey at the MCAKC Annual Board Meeting in August and then was able to be a part of the golf event on October 14^th at Canyon Farms Golf Club in Lenexa, KS.

The Golf Tournament

I knew it was going to be a special day when I heard the tournament sold out in the first 4 days of open registration. I had no idea that it would be run so efficiently, effectively and flawlessly as it was from the moment you drove into the parking lot until after dinner; awards and raffle items were handed out.

Randy Bratton, Mission Cup Coordinator, commented that we now know what Best in Class looks like and what we can aspire to have our golf tournaments look like in the future. Everything was first class from check-in to raffle prizes to the golf tournament and hole contests. It was an absolute joy to be at the Par 3 Hole-in-One Contest and to have Father’s Club leadership interacting with so many quality business owners and workers, vendors and MCAKC members and associates.

The Big Check

On November 13, 2024, MCAKC presented Father’s Club with a check for $61,145.00. This was the largest amount raised at any single golf tournament event to date and helped MCAKC exceed the $500,000 threshold in charitable giving to local nonprofits in just 18 years. Think about that for a moment – Half of a Million dollars raised and donated to local nonprofits in less than 18 years!

Father’s Club was a fantastic charity partner to work with this year and we look forward to our continued work together, especially with mental health. – MCAKC

Congratulations to MCAKC and your wonderful organization for all that you are doing to support local nonprofits. Thank you to Stacy Zerr, Jacki Conn, Jamie Mikelson, Kathleen Livingston and everyone else that made this tournament so successful. Thank you to the Board of Directors and all those involved in choosing Father’s Club to be this year’s charitable recipient.

We are beyond humbled by your generosity and partnership and look forward to furthering our relationship in the future as it relates to our Mental Health & Wellness efforts and creating simple, intentional ways for MCAKC members and associates to be involved in the lives of their KIDS, other DADS and the COMMUNITY with love, humility and resolve.