Yankee greats and credit unions add up to one successful charity event

BEAVERTON, Ore. – First Tech CU CEO Tom Sargent says he’s lucky to have friends such as New York Yankee greats Hank Bauer and Moose Skowron, but the luckiest may be the Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital in Portland. For the second straight year First Tech CU has put together the “Hank and Moose Open”, a golf tournament featuring the two Yankee greats and about 26 other sports and TV celebrities. It was a Credit Union for Kids event with funds raised going to Doernbecher’s. This year’s event raised $220,000 for the children’s hospital. Sargent, an avid Yankee fan, said in just its second year the event is getting solid support from CUs across the country. “Last year we only expected to raise about $50,000, and finished closer to $100,000. We spend all year planning it. Credit union sponsors really stepped up this year,” said Sargent. First Tech CU and CUNA Mutual were the title sponsors, each donating $25,000. There were 228 participants, plus another 28 celebrity participants. Getting these Yankee greats together is no problem for Sargent who has been friends with some of them, including Moose Skowron, for over 20 years. “I’ve been to six of those Yankee fantasy camps and have got to know more of them over years. Moose and I were put together by business acquaintances many years back.” Sargent holds a party for participants on the eve of the fundraiser at his home. This year 95 people attended. “That’s where you really start to hear some baseball stories,” he said. Sargent said he’d be remiss if he didn’t mention other baseball greats that participated, including Don Larsen; Enos Slaughter, who in his mid 80s was the oldest golfer; Bobby Schantz; Bobby Morgan; Roy Sievers; and others. The event was also well attended by credit union CEOs, including GTE FCU’s Bucky Sebastian; Patelco CU’s Ed Callahan; Bellco FCU’s Doug Ferraro; and USA FCU’s Mary Cunningham. So were the competitive fires burning among all these great athletes and CEOs? “We really set it up so good golfers and bad golfers can both enjoy themselves. There’s the best drive and then everybody plays their own ball. I can’t even remember the winners. The scorecards probably weren’t very accurate,” said Sargent. VISA DPS, United Airlines, and CO-OP Network also supported the event. [email protected]