Photos by C9 Photograpy courtesy of Birch Equipment
leading edge PHILANTHROPY
Clockwise from top left: Team Birch Equipment (with Jake Locker, far left); Some of Carole Garguile’s team of volunteers with Sarah Rothenbuhler, far left; 2017 winning team Dunkin & Bush; Team/sponsor Mills Electric (with Ryan Stiles, 2nd from right).
Birch Golf Classic Tees Up Community Caring By Dave Brumbaugh
When does writing a check with a few zeroes at the end make you smile? Perhaps when it: • Goes to truly deserving nonprofits that make a difference with people facing heart-breaking challenges. • Gives you the opportunity to golf at one of Northwest Washington’s top courses. • Connects you with an amazing array of local people in business, education, entertainment, law enforcement, and sports. That’s the recipe for the Birch Golf Classic set for Sept. 6 at the Bellingham Golf & Country Club. For the last three years Birch Equipment in Bellingham has orchestrated the Birch Pro-Am, teaming up with local businesses to raise more than $750,000 for Whatcom Hospice. The event has a new twist this year. Birch CEO/Owner Sarah Rothenbuhler restructured the format, working in 20 | BUSINESSPULSE.COM JULY/AUGUST 2018
concert with former NFL quarterback Jake Locker, Paul Twedt with Northwestern Mutual, and Jessie Evenson, who is Birch Equipment’s Director of Employee and Customer Programs. They transitioned from the previous pro-amateur format to a “community-amateur” event. Instead of teams pairing only with a pro golfer (several still will participate), the teams will select a “celebrity” from the local region. Some have marquee names—like Locker and former NFL kicker Michael Koenen, and internationally-known comedian Ryan Stiles (Uptown Theater owner and star of “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?”)—and others include entrepreneurs, politicians, and executives from the area. “We’re all so busy with life and work, and the tournament will provide a great day for meeting and connecting incredible people whose paths don’t always cross, but they should,” Rothenbuhler