'Wonderful day' at Reserve Club boosts FOTAS

Bill Bengtson, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·3 min read

Oct. 18—Mulligans, money and mutts were topics of conversation Monday at The Reserve Club, with about 170 golfers accepting the invitation to take part in "Playing Fore the Pets," a fundraiser for Friends of the Animal Shelter.

"They had a great turnout," said golfer Fran Warner, who wound up in a foursome that tied for second place (and also included Debbie Yanno, Karen O'Keefe and Carrie Dillard). "We had a wonderful day. It was a wonderful event."

Warner, an artist who makes wreaths and floral arrangements, also supported the event by donating a creation for a silent auction, as did artists Nancy Racki, Greg Powers, Caroline Bergen and Kathy Frost Giddings.

Unusual aspects at this year's event included a helicopter-based ball drop, with a $1,000 prize being offered for the person whose golf ball wound up closest to a cup near the clubhouse. The winning ball was registered to Madi Williams, daughter of Tom Williams, the owner of Floyd and Green Jewelers.

Retired businessman Greg Ryberg acknowledged "a great day," and added, "It was (an) extremely well-run tournament, with a large field, and for an absolutely excellent cause, and the difference that FOTAS has made to the animal community in Aiken County is just off the charts."

Greeting golfers and taking in the sights, sounds and smells was Aiken County Animal Shelter resident Church, a white, female dog up for adoption and listed as a medium-sized mix breed of about age 6.

This was FOTAS' first golf fundraiser since 2019, due to COVID-19 restrictions, and proceeds are to support a variety of initiatives in FOTAS' constant efforts "to support the Aiken County Animal Shelter by promoting animal welfare, responsible pet ownership, and the elimination of euthanasia of all adoptable animals," as stated on the organization's website.

The top foursomes were composed of Shana Pearsons, Greg Ryberg, Tom Williams and Dale Haas; and Lance Kledas, Charles Bostwick, Will Durrett and Robert Hartung.

Jennifer Miller, president of FOTAS, gave the fundraiser a thumbs-up review and cited a variety of initiatives and success stories, including a current project to create a building with two meet-and-greet rooms (for pets and their potential adopters) and a training room to help with socialization and the process of teaching about the importance of spaying, neutering and pet-owner responsibility in general.

She said the shelter receives more than 4,000 animals per year. The euthanasia rate at the shelter, prior to FOTAS' establishment, was about 90%, and the current situation has 90% of incoming pets. "Every adoptable pet," she said, is saved.

Dozens of businesses were listed Monday, at the fundraiser, as FOTAS supporters, including such names as Freitas Wealth Management, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Plum Pudding, Jewelry Doctor, Auto Tech, Discount Tire Service, The Inn at Houndslake, Unique Expressions, Dirty Paws, High Country Olive Oil and Woodside Development. Comprising the tournament committee were Sharon Johnson, Karen Loughran, Connie Jarzmick, Jan Barker, Mary Ann Malloy and Maria James.