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Thousands of dollars were raised for nonprofits on Saturday night as more than 70 people who dressed as their favorite TV show characters participated in the Onward! A Legacy Foundation fourth annual Putt-Putt Tournament.<\/p>\n
Eighteen teams of characters from The Smurfs, Green Acres, Home Improvement, Bob\u2019s Burgers and other beloved TV shows visited 10 Cortez businesses, restaurants and bars to try their shot at a variety of creative putt-putt holes, while purchasing drinks and food along the way. Next year\u2019s theme is favorite movie.<\/p>\n
Chuck Forth, executive director of Onward! A Legacy Foundation, said the proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward the foundation\u2019s general fund and general endowment fund, which distributes grant money to local nonprofits.<\/p>\n
He said the event typically brings in about $5,000 to $6,000 a year.<\/p>\n
The annual putt-putt tournament injects some life into local businesses during what is often a slow time of year, Forth said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a good time of year because it\u2019s slow, so it kind of helps with a little bit of retail pickup,\u201d Forth said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing it the Saturday before the Super Bowl \u2026 everyone seems to be in a festive mood.\u201d<\/p>\n
The foundation has been around for 18 years, Forth said, and keeps growing. He explained that Onward! invests capital in order in order to distribute grant money to nonprofits.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally, how we make money \u2014 we manage assets,\u201d Forth said. \u201cWe have $3.2 million that we are managing. We actively invest that money and make money.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over at High Desert Life Outdoors on Main Street, owner Jeff Mobley said the shop has participated in the putt-putt tournament for three years. He said the business is defending its title of best putt-putt hole. This year, High Desert put together a Yogi Bear-themed hole mostly made out of duct tape and cardboard.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s for a good cause,\u201d Mobley said.<\/p>\n
At ice cream shop Moose and More, owner Brent McWhirter set up an elaborate putt-putt hole that sends the golf ball through a metal chute and onto the putting green.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just use it for little events like this,\u201d McWhirter said. \u201cWe love it.\u201d<\/p>\n