Our friends at Out West Officials & Gear have been hosting a golf tournament in Utah called Official-ly FORE Kids for three years running, each year using proceeds from the event to raise funds for the delivery of 100 Build-A-Bear furry friends to kids in the hospital.
On Monday, there was golfing fun on the links.
On Tuesday, umpires from the collegiate level were delivering 100 Build-A-Bear stuffed toys, outfits, activity books and more to kids at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital.
It is a wonderful tradition started by Randy Upton, Dax Upton and Brandon Riley who wanted to give back to the community in their hometown of Salt Lake City.
“This visit to Primary Children’s Hospital is so special because it shows how much the giving spirit is alive and well at all levels of umpiring,” said Jennifer Skolochenko-Platt, Executive Director at UMPS
CARE Charities. “What started as a grassroots effort to give back at the Major League level has now expanded to all levels of umpires, and UMPS CARE Charities is so proud to see the Salt Lake City community come together to support cause.”
Randy Upton has spent more than 25 years in officiating, working at both the NCAA Division I and II levels in addition to the NJCAA Division I level. He currently serves as the Rocky Mountain Athletic
Conference Coordinator of Baseball Officials. His son, Dax, is now in his 12 th season as a baseball umpire. Brandon Riley has spent more than two decades in umpiring and recently reached the Division I level.
Randy and Dax Upton run Out West Officials Gear & Apparel an umpire apparel outlet based in Salt Lake City.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Official-ly FORE Kids golf tournament, Randy Upton, Dax Upton and Brandon Riley. Special thanks to the Child Life staff at Primary Children’s Hospital and to Jody Metzger-Pflieger for capturing the special moments from the hospital visit.
If you have a fundraising idea, let us know! Email [email protected]
#HelpingPeopleIsAnEasyCall
