TDS golf outing raises $130,000 for two deserving charities

TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS^®) associates and vendors came together today to play golf and raise $130,000 for two nonprofits. The company’s annual golf outing, The TDS Open, was held at University Ridge Golf Course in Verona, Wisconsin. Logan’s Heart and Smiles in Madison, Wisconsin received $65,000, and $65,000 was raised for The Giving Plate in Bend, Oregon.

Logan’s Heart and Smiles is a nonprofit that builds accessibility and safety modifications for children with disabilities to empower their independence at home. Since 2010, The Giving Plate has served over 6.9 million pounds of food to food-insecure families in Central Oregon, a TDS service area.

“This is the largest amount that we have raised from this annual event, and we’re honored to be able to support children and families in need throughout Wisconsin and Central Oregon,” said TDS President and CEO Jim Butman.

The TDS Open has raised more than $700,000 for worthy charities since it became a charitable golf outing 12 years ago.

“We couldn’t be more grateful to TDS for choosing Logan’s Heart and Smiles as one of this outing’s beneficiaries,” said Angela Wallace, executive director of Logan’s Heart and Smiles. “Home modifications are costly, and often unaffordable for families in need of wheelchair ramps, safety fences, etc. This donation will go a long way in helping us create thriving home environments for children with disabilities.”

Ranae Staley, executive director of The Giving Plate, is likewise grateful for her organization’s selection.

“We feel so honored that TDS chose us a beneficiary of this amazing event,” Staley said. “As one of the largest food pantries in Central Oregon, these funds will allow us to continue to grow as an organization and provide meals to families and community members in need.”

More than 170 people participated or volunteered in this year’s golf outing.

The TDS Open has support from over 50 sponsors, including platinum-level ($10,000) support from CoPilot, Nokia, and Vecima. Executive level ($5,000) sponsors include AE Business Solutions/Palo Alto Networks, Amazon Web Services, CommScope, Covington, Evolution Digital, KGP, Netceed, Salesforce, and Sidley Austin LLP.  Forty-four additional vendors donated at various other levels. Money was also raised through raffle tickets, mulligan sales, and hole contests.