By Michael YEGHIAYAN

Dozens of golfers descended on the La Cañada Country Club on Monday, participating in the 30th annual golf classic benefitting two local non-profits. The fundraising event, organized by the CV Sheriff’s Support Group and the Desi Geestman Foundation, provided a day of golf for 76 participants while raising money for the worthy causes.

Rick Dinger, who has been involved with both the Desi Geestman Foundation and the CV Sheriff’s Support Group for over a decade, spoke about both groups’ histories and their role in the community.

“It’s been a great relationship. We learned about each other, we mix and mingle,” said Dinger. “We are all La Crescenta groups, and this event will benefit both of us.”

As a long-standing event, a number of participants have returned year after year, making the golf classic a consistently successful fundraiser that provides thousands of dollars annually for the CV sheriffs as well as the DGF.

The DGF was established in 1999 with the goal of supporting children and their families who are coping with cancer. The organization provides financial and emotional support for those who struggle to find other forms of assistance.

“It is the same group of people that come together once a year. We provide a great venue for a wonderful day of golf,” said Dinger. “It’s basically been the same the whole way through; we are all out here trying to help out the community. And with this partnership, we are both able to benefit two great groups.”

Separate tournaments by the CV Sheriff’s Support Group and the DGF were consolidated into a single, larger event a few years ago.

Over its 30-year history, the golf classic has provided the means for the Sheriff’s Support Group to contribute a wide array of equipment ranging from training gear to large ticket items such as mountain bikes for search and rescue operations and even a Toyota Tundra truck. Most recently, the group provided an Emergency Operations Center at the Crescenta Valley station, a central command and control facility that will assist the department in the case of a local disaster.

The Support Group also helps support the operations of STAR, Montrose Search and Rescue, Explorer Scouts, Civilian Volunteers, reserves, mounted posse, Neighborhood Watch and Arson Watch.

“The money we raise we give to the department to provide things that the county won’t provide, or will provide but it might take forever to get it. There is no red tape, we cut the check and they get what they need,” said Dinger.

The CV Sheriff’s Support Group raises money throughout the year, with events such as the Santa Anita Park fundraiser “A Day at the Races” in addition to a rolling membership drive.

With another successful event behind him, Dinger expects the golf classic to remain a community fundraising fixture for years to come.

“We want to keep providing the same event,” he said. “As long as people keep coming back, we’ll keep providing a fun day.”

  MICHAEL YEGHIAYAN