Organizers and supporters of the K9 Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Scholarship Fund will hold the 11th annual golf outing Aug. 20 at Hill Crest Country Club.
The tournament is an 18-hole, four-person scramble with 32 foursomes.
Organizers initially planned to cap the golf outings at 10 years — the time it took to amass enough donations to pay for future scholarships in honor of Kotecki, a Lower Burrell police officer ambushed and killed on duty in 2011.
But too many players and volunteers voiced disappointment that the annual event was ending last year, according to Shasta Meixelsberger, one of the organizers.
“We have been overwhelmed by the number of letters, emails and conversations from many previous golfers,” she said. “Many expressed that they look forward to this event at the end of every August and even make their end-of-summer plans around it.”
The event has continuously featured a full field of players and sold out in record time last year.
After hearing from so many people, Meixelsberger and fellow event organizer Audra Flemm decided to offer the tournament again.
The event will be a bit stripped down, minus the craft show, this year. The golfers will enjoy dinner, raffles and other fun.
Organizers welcome donated items or gift certificates for prizes. Golf sponsorship opportunities also are available.
The annual golf outing is the primary source of fundraising for the scholarship fund.
The nonprofit distributes money annually to fund about nine scholarships for post-high school training and education for students attending Burrell, Valley and Kiski Area high schools.
