For the City-Times

Three local charities received a boost in donations thanks to former SentryWorld golf course pass holders, league players and the Sentry Insurance Foundation.

Throughout the month of September, SentryWorld hosted a number of Charity Golf Days to give former SentryWorld pass holders and league players an exclusive opportunity to play some of the first rounds of golf on the new SentryWorld course while supporting three deserving local charities. Each pass holder or league player was eligible to purchase one 18-hole round of golf for themselves with a $100 donation to either the Humane Society of Portage County, Operation Bootstrap of Portage County or the Saint Michael’s Foundation. The Sentry Insurance Foundation contributed an additional $100 for each pass holder and league player donation.

In total, $24,600 was raised for the three charities, with $12,800 donated to the Humane Society of Portage County, $9,000 to Operation Bootstrap and $2,800 to Saint Michael’s Foundation.

“We are happy to have had the chance to add to the generous donations from SentryWorld’s former pass holders and league players,” said Jim Weishan, executive vice president and chief investment officer of Sentry Insurance and president of the Sentry Insurance Foundation. “All three organizations are doing great things in our community and we are proud to support them through this and other opportunities.”

Along with Charity Golf Days for the Humane Society of Portage County, Operation Bootstrap of Portage County and Saint Michael’s Foundation, SentryWorld also hosted a number of charity golf outings in support of United Way.

Eighteen foursomes were donated directly to United Way of Portage County for Golf United! and auctioned off for fundraising efforts. The auction raised more than $15,000 for United Way of Portage County. Golf United! was held September 23.

Additionally, two hundred 18-hole rounds of golf were made available for Sentry employees and retirees in exchange for a $100 per round donation to United Way.

“Our associates, former pass holders and league players were excited to come out and golf the reimagined SentryWorld and showed a great charitable spirit in the process,” added Mike James, SentryWorld general manager. “All of these charity golf outings are just an example of the types of events SentryWorld will host in the future to serve our central Wisconsin community—we are proud to do so.”

SentryWorld is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and is owned and operated by Sentry Insurance, one of the largest and strongest mutual insurance companies in the United States. The company and its subsidiaries sell property and casualty insurance, life insurance, annuities and retirement programs for businesses and individuals throughout the country. Headquartered in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Sentry employs nearly 4,000 associates in 41 states.