Janice Swanson & Steve Graff at Pebble Beach
When husband and wife team, Steve Graff and Janice Swanson, joined the planning committee for the 2011 Mike Rich & Friends Present RMHC Golf and Social, they didn’t realize it would eventually lead them to play one of golf’s most storied courses for an opportunity to raise additional money and visibility for Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Oregon and Southwest Washington.
As new residents of Portland, Janice, the Regional Managing Director, and Steve, an Underwriting Consultant for The Principal, were looking for volunteer opportunities when Janice met RMHC Executive Director Tom Soma at an estate planning council conference.
“We got involved with Ronald McDonald House for two important reasons,” Janice says. “We wanted to help families and children in need. We wanted to personally get involved in the community, and for Steve and me being new, it was a way to meet more people.”
In addition to coordinating for The Principal to cook meals for families, Janice and Steve joined the planning committee for an annual golf tournament, the second largest fundraiser for RMHC. The Principal stepped up and became a tournament sponsor, and as part of the committee, Janice and Steve also helped secure an amazing sponsored experience through Lexus of Portland – a spot for two in the Lexus Champions for Charity National Championship.
Held at Pebble Beach Resorts each December, the Lexus Champions for Charity hosts a twosome from each local tournament to represent their charity in this three day event and compete to win a portion of a $100,000 charity prize purse.
In trying to help raise more dollars for the Ronald McDonald House at the auction, Janice and Steve ended up winning the trip, and in December joined other donors on the links of Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and The Links at Spanish Bay. “We were able to golf three of best courses in the country,” Steve said, “meet some wonderful people, and help Ronald McDonald House. It truly was a “December to Remember.”
While Janice and Steve might not have finished in the money at the Lexus Champions for Charity, their photos show an experience that they won’t soon forget, and they continue to be involved with the planning of the 2012 Mike Rich & Friends Present RMHC Golf and Social – which will be held Sunday, July 29th at Nike and Monday, July 30th at Pumpkin Ridge.
