The Ozark Turf Association Donates to the Wee One Foundation
/The Board of the Ozark Turf Association made a recent donation to the Wee One Foundation. The Board’s donation of $500 was matched by Syngenta, for a total donation of $1,000. The OTA was honored to make a small effort to assist our fellow colleagues when they are faced with medical challenges.
The Wee One Mission
The Wee One Foundation was developed as a tribute to Wayne Otto, CGCS to assist golf course management professionals (or their dependents) who incur overwhelming expenses due to medical hardship without comprehensive insurance or adequate financial resources. Through the Foundation's work, Wayne's legacy will never be forgotten.
More In Need
Since its inception in 2004, membership within the Wee One Foundation has grown to over 350 in 27 states. More importantly, the Wee One Foundation has gifted over $1,500,000 to families in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin - As the Wee One grows more people are helped and more funds are needed to distribute. Please consider contributing today.
History of the Wee One Foundation
The Wee One Foundation was founded in 2004 when friends of Wayne Otto, CGCS banned together to financially assist him in his battle with cancer. Wayne was a pioneer in the turf industry always searching for new and better ways to produce a finer playing surface. As Wayne learned more about his disease, he applied those same pioneering principles to overcome his illness.
Those that knew Wayne, knew a man small in stature and a man that placed more effort and enthusiasm into his friendships and care for his fellow man. As passionate as Wayne was about turf, his love for life could not measure. Wayne died in the fall of 2004 but his passion for life and his willingness to help still live on because of the work of the Wee One Foundation.
Through the perseverance and hard work of several friends of Wayne, the group developed its mission of helping those in need. Founded on the principle of assisting golf course management professionals (or their dependents) who incur overwhelming expenses due to medical hardship without comprehensive insurance or adequate financial resources, the Foundation has evolved into a cause that goes way beyond its initial reason for existence.
The Wee One Foundation was aptly named to honor Wayne. Nicknames are rarely chosen by their owner as in this case. On a golfing trip to Scotland with some friends, one of the group’s caddies decided to place his wager on the “wee one”. A small action (as legend has it) that turned out to be a sound decision by the caddie that day and a small gesture that has helped many other individuals through economic hardships due to overwhelming medical expenses. Simply, that is what the Wee One Foundation accomplishes today.
Since its inception in 2004 the Wee One Foundation has gifted over $1,500,000 to those in need. The Foundation raises money through its membership, golf outings and sponsorships.
We encourage you to visit the website and learn more about The Wee One Foundation at https://weeone.org/ or click on the logo below.
