Let’s keep growing! Thank you for all the love and support.
The Rock the Garden theme set the tone, with live music at the start of the round, with local rock band Totally Reckless playing popular tunes all day long. We were treated to a special rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, performed by violin virtuoso Ines Vitols, which resonated with the patriotic crowd.
Hole 7 featured a beverage cart, sponsored by Solstice Ridge II and Prescott Luxury Realty and Investments with Don Cheek, Drew Hall and Ines performing their musical magic, as players swung for a hole in one and a chance to win a new car, sponsored by Lamb Chevrolet. Between holes 13 and 14, we had The Amazing Tortellini Brothers, who played classic surf tunes as players went by. Having live music during the tournament added a festive and energetic atmosphere to the event. Everyone seemed to love it.
The purpose of the outing was to raise money for the Prescott Food Forest and our Gardeners Of Destiny (G.O.D.) education programs. To support our scholarship fund, we had my lovely wife, Lisa Murphy, Stephanie Wirick and Jack and Laura Jenkins raise close to $2,000 by offering each foursome the opportunity to buy a “one” on their scorecard for a donation. Almost all the players were happy to support the cause.
We were blessed to have many sponsors, including Quad Cities Business News, Dignity Health, Blind Brothers Arizona, Olsen’s for Healthy Animals, Pinnacle Bank, Desert Financial, Silver Sands Recovery, Legacy Roofing, Inspired Closets, Wirick Insurance, Dr. Brad Williams, Define Mortgage and many others. I am grateful to Ken Lain and Watters Garden Center for sponsoring a Putting for Plants contest and the Northern Arizona Wranglers for providing three four packs of tickets to a Wranglers game. Plus, Raskin’s Jewelers provided a beautiful gold and diamond necklace for our silent auction. Also, Prescott Valley Mayor Kell Palguta graciously offered to share his Mayors Box at a Wranglers game. Amazing.
We were also able to auction foursomes to play some top golf courses, via the gracious donations from Oakcreek Country Club – Sedona, Capital Canyon Club, Stone Ridge Golf Course, Antelope Hills Golf Courses and The Club at Prescott Lakes.
Besides raising money to fund the 2024 season at B Organic Farm in Chino Valley, we got to honor a local legend, PGA Hall of Fame golfer John Gunby, who is retiring to the Valley soon. He was the recipient of the Arline’s Angel Award, named after my late mom, who was a selfless, charitable person. John has been a leader helping our veterans and is deeply involved in the Special Olympics. We were blessed to have Dan Olsen lead a prayer for John’s next chapter of his life.
With the money raised, we can offer up to 50 full scholarships to our gardening classes, install a drip system for the outdoor raised beds and support our teachers and volunteers. Speaking of volunteers, I want to thank Stephane Leon, who tirelessly worked to make the event a success, LeRoy Miller, Debra Ott, Wendy Lancy, DeeAnn Herrington, Ann Smeltzer, Kathleen Murphy Ann Shoen, Lin Gentilioti, Cathy Mayo and others who gave their time and talents to ensure a smooth event.
If you missed out on playing this year (we were completely sold out), the date for next year’s Second Annual Rock the Garden Open is set for Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at The Club at Prescott Lakes. A special thanks to the team at the club, including Kelli Welch, Stuart Birch, Adam Nutt, Brian, Jake and others for doing an outstanding job.
If you want to donate to support our gardening education programs visit www.prescottfoodforest.com. Let’s keep growing! Thank you for all the love and support. Make 100 Healthy Inc is a AZ 501(c)3 non-profit. QCBN
By John Murphy
John Murphy is the founder of Make 100 Healthy/Prescott Food Forest.
Courtesy Photo: Local musicians performed during the Rock the Garden Open golf tournament to help raise money for the Prescott Food Forest.
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