Teeing off for a cause

Advent House Ministries and North Westminster Presbyterian Church are joining forces to present the golf outing, which will serve as a fundraiser for ongoing charitable mission projects within both organizations. The joint fundraiser is hosted by Mason’s Branson Bay golf course.

John Tucker, longtime North Westminster Presbyterian Church member, helped organize the event.

“(Golfing) is a good fundraising event. We had one for our church last year, and it’s something different, a way of involving people,” said Tucker. “This year, Advent House decided that they wanted to join us.”

Advent House and North Westminster Presbyterian Church share a building on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and both nonprofit organizations deliver aid in many different forms to the Lansing community. This fundraising event symbolizes more to both organizations than just a fun way to spend a Wednesday morning. The church’s congregation is growing, and funding is needed for building upkeep and charity programs. Advent House needs funding to continue to provide the variety of charitable services they offer.

“Advent House provides GED classes, they provide shelters for the homeless on the weekends, they provide services to veterans, help people find jobs. (This fundraiser) will be helping us with those kinds of things,” said Tucker.

North Westminster Presbyterian Church helps the community through a personal needs closet, meals for needy Lansing area families during the holiday seasons and additional charitable services throughout the year.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. on the morning of the event, or fourperson teams can call ahead to enter. The cost is $50 per person to play, and includes 18 holes of golf, a cart and lunch. For non-golfers, there are still ways to support the organizations without playing. Benefactors may pay $100, and additional donations are welcome.

The inaugural Hope In One golf outing also offers participants a chance to win a variety of prizes, including everything from golfing accessories to baskets of Michigan products to afghans knitted by members of the church’s congregation. Participants are automatically entered to win door prizes when they register, but can win additional prizes through mini-contests like “Closest to the Pin” or “Longest Drive.” The variety of prizes represents the thoughtfulness of the organizers.

“Some people like that we don’t just do all golf-related prizes, because if you’re somebody who golfs a lot you get a lot of golf-related prizes.

We try to provide variety of things,” Tucker said.

Tucker is optimistic that the fundraiser will live up to its name.

“The name, Hope in One, has meaning besides just being a play on ‘hole in one,’” he said. “We have a large number of members now, and without Advent House and what they can provide, we would be hard put to continue to provide. And Advent House needs the space that we provide. The two of us have hope, working together, and if we weren’t together we might not have that kind of hope.”

Hope in One golf outing

Four person scramble a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5 $50/person Branson Bay Golf Course 215 Branson Bay Drive, Mason (517) 482-3784 adventhouse.com northwestminster.org

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 >> FASHION 411 SPEAKER SERIES

Chris Grindem, executive director of the Utmost Group, will be the featured speaker at tonight’s Fashion 411 Speaker Series. The series, hosted by the Runway, was created to highlight successful entrepreneurs and to give young entrepreneurs a chance to learn from their stories of success and failure. A 30-year veteran of the marketing industry, Grindem has worked for advertising agencies Leo Burnett Chicago, Doner and JWT Detroit. The Utmost Group is a branding, marketing and communications firm focused on serving startups and small business in Detroit. 5:30-7 p.m. $15. The Runway, 300 S. Washington Square, Suite 100, Lansing. (517) 230-2942, runwaylansing.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 30 >> MOONLIGHT FILM FESTIVAL: ‘ERNEST & CELESTINE’

East Lansing winds down its outdoor film series with the heartfelt and brilliant animated movie “Ernest And Celestine.” The film tells the tale of an artistic young mouse named Celestine, who lives below the ground and is dissatisfied with the fact that all mice are destined to become dentists. On a routine dental school exercise above ground, Celestine is captured by Ernest, a bear whose social misgivings are only matched by his insatiable hunger. Though they’re from completely different worlds, the two become thick as thieves — with an emphasis on “thieves” — by finding a common bond through some not-so legal activities. The film is based on the series of children’s books by Belgian author Gabrielle Vincent and was nominated for an Academy Award for “Best Animated Feature.” A performance by Mighty Medicine will precede the film. 9:30 p.m. FREE. Valley Court Park, 280 Valley Court, East Lansing. cityofeastlansing.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 31 >> STARGAZERS AND SPIES AT THE BROAD ART MUSEUM

Amateur astronomers and space enthusiasts have a chance to learn about outer space from an astronomer’s perspective at Friday’s Stargazers and Spies event This two-part event, presented in conjunction with MSU’s Abrams Planetarium, features Shannon Schmoll, director of the planetarium. Schmoll will give his take on the Broad’s current exhibit, Trevor Paglen’s “The Genres,” which deals with satellite images and surveillance. After the tour, participants are invited to the planetarium to observe satellites and other cosmic phenomena related to the exhibit. 7 p.m. FREE with advanced registration. Broad Museum, 547 E. Circle Drive, East Lansing. (517) 884-4800. broadmuseum.msu.edu.

FRIDAY, JULY 31-AUG. 1 >> ´CHARM SCHOOL?´ AT MID MICHIGAN FAMILY THEATRE

The worlds of high-class etiquette and black magic collide in Charm Theater School?, opening Friday at Mid Michigan Family Theatre. A group of etiquette-loving girls plan to attend a charm and manners class, but, because of a street mix up, they accidently end up at the Witch and Wizard School of Charms and Magic. Meanwhile, a group of aspiring witches looking for a charms and potions class accidently end up in the etiquette academy. Hijinks ensue as the two groups of girls realize the mistake and create plans to escape. 7 p.m. FREE. Bath Middle School, 13675 Webster Rd. Bath, MI. (517) 339-2145, freewebs.com/ midmichfamilytheatre.

FRIDAY, JULY 31 >> JAZZ IN PINK

All-female smooth jazz group “Jazz in Pink” headlines the annual community summer music series An Evening of Smooth Jazz Friday evening. The band’s stacked lineup features six talented ladies who are all talented composers and performers in their own right. The evening will also include an opening performance by Lansing’s 496 West and other special guests. 7 p.m. $25. Margaret Livensparger Theater, Holt High School, 5885 W. Holt Road, Holt. (517) 372-7246, bmrwpromotions.tix.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 >> ROLL THE VOTE

With voting on recreational marijuana likely on the horizon, Roll the Vote is presenting a full day of events relating to marijuana use, drug policy and the marijuana industry. This year’s event features a wide variety of speakers including political candidates, media representatives, business owners and more. A variety of live bands will provide entertainment throughout the day and vendors will be on hand to sell their wares. Noon-8 p.m. FREE. Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. (517) 420-1873, thinklivemusic.com.