MI Foundation again raises over $1 million for charity at annual golf outing

With the support of suppliers, customers, team members, and additional business partners, MI and Milgard Windows & Doors were able to raise a record $1.4 million for charity at this year’s annual MI Foundation Charity Golf Outing, held October 18-24. On top of the 1.4 million dollars raised, the MI Foundation also provided funding for 600,000 meals, which will be distributed to food banks located in communities throughout the country where MI operates manufacturing facilities.

In many ways the MI Foundation’s 22^nd annual Charitable Golf Outing was like the ones that came before it—except for the fact that the 2020 golf outing was the first one held virtually.

Originally scheduled to be an in-person event in Hershey, Pa., the MI Foundation transitioned the event to a virtual format. The team was determined to find a way to safely execute the 22^nd annual event, while keeping health concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic top-of-mind.

“We challenged ourselves to create an event that kept our 22-year tradition alive,” said MI CEO Matt DeSoto. “Based on the results, I’d say the team executed to perfection.”

Throughout the weeklong event, guests took to the links at various courses across the country. Just two days before the golfers stepped into their spikes, the online auction began. Once again, the MI Foundation was able to auction off fantastic items, including a tour of Andretti Autosport’s headquarters in Indianapolis, paintings by noted Pittsburgh-based speed painter Cody Sabol, artwork crafted by pediatric cancer patients, and more.

The auction came to a close on Sunday, Oct. 25, the day after the virtual dinner party. As part of the festivities, Netflix star Justin Willman put on a magic show, and guests prepared a surf and turf alongside Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli—through the computer of course.

“We had so much fun with the cooking experience and participating in the event,” said Lance Lunde, MI and Milgard National Account Manager at Quanex Building Products. “Kudos to the MI Foundation for being creative and making yet another successful event happen.”

In addition to the meal, the guests enjoyed wine from Sky Devil Wines in Napa Valley and cannoli from Caputo Brothers Creamery in Spring Grove, Pa. In the spirit of the event, Sky Devil Wines donated limited edition three-liter bottles of their finest wine, raising over $25,000. Likewise, Caputo Brothers made a donation to breast cancer research for each dessert box that was sent to MI Foundation attendees.

“The food and the wine were really good,” said Mike Brancale, Northeast Regional Purchasing Manager for MI customer D.R. Horton. “I may have to get an operation to have the smile removed from my face.”

This was the second straight year that the Charitable Golf Outing raised over $1 million. MI Windows absorbs the costs of running this event so that every dollar received goes toward charitable efforts. This year, the event included a record number of 41 sponsors and 284 attendees.

“All in all, it was a fun, diverse, and safe event,” said Amanda Klinger, co-chair of the event with Robert Savidge. “We hope we can all get together in 2021 for our 23^rd golf outing. But if not, we’ll be prepared.”