Charitable Partner Program: Orth Memorial Golf Tournament Raises Friends, Fun and Funds

Several individuals and organizations host CentraCare Foundation’s Charitable Partner Program events that support CentraCare’s work in providing hope and healing for patients and families in greater Minnesota. Candyce Gregory, CentraCare Foundation’s Event Manager, explains: “People can partner with the Foundation and champion a cause that is personally meaningful to them, knowing their efforts will directly support CentraCare’s mission. This personal investment not only inspires greater fundraising success but also creates a ripple effect—bringing meaningful change to those who benefit from the donations.”

The Matt Orth Memorial Golf Tournament is just such an event, created by the Orth family in memory of brothers Matt and Travis Orth. The annual event not only raises funds for CentraCare’s Suicide Prevention Program but also offers healing and camaraderie for the community.

Matt Orth and Rachel Lucas were recently married at the time of his sudden death from unknown causes while playing hockey in the fall of 2012. Matt had completed his Class A PGA Professional Certification and was working at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club as an assistant golf professional guiding over 200 kids in the junior golf program.

The Orth Memorial Golf Tournament was initially held in Des Moines on the course where Matt worked. Organizers eventually moved the event to St. Cloud so more of Matt’s family and friends could participate in the event and support one another as they fondly remembered the active young man.

More Than a Golf Tournament

Lucas, a tournament founder, says the Orths are a tight-knit family who know the importance of lifting people up and maintaining strong ties in the community. For them, nurturing connections is the most important way to remember Matt and Travis. “Even if golf is not your game—as it is not for many of us—you can pretend and have fun in honor of the Orth brothers. They were fun-loving and enjoyed being active outdoors and both brought smiles to your face. That is the spirit of the event. Supporters can share stories with each other about the impact Matt and Travis had on their lives, and continue to support the Orths, as they carry their legacies forward.”

The tournament provides funding for an endowed scholarship that the Orths established at Lawrence University, Matt’s alma mater. Each year, a Minnesota student receives $5,000 for their education in Matt’s honor. While the Orth’s continue support for the scholarship, the golf tournament’s fundraising focus has expanded.

Sadly, seven years after Matt’s death, his older brother, Travis, died unexpectedly by suicide. Family and friends decided proceeds from the tournament should help fund suicide prevention efforts. To date, CentraCare’s Suicide Prevention Program received over $42,000 from the tournament through the CentraCare Foundation.

“We wanted to bring our support to the local community, and this gave us a way to honor Travis’ life as well,” explains Lucas. “This event is a time for all the people in Matt and Travis’ lives to come together and remember them, honor their lives and raise funds to support others in difficult times. We continue to hold the tournament with the same intent: to bring smiles to people’s faces on that day and give others a second chance at life. The St. Cloud community always rises to the occasion when support is needed, along with the Orth family—that is just their way. People reach out and share their own experiences of losing a loved one, a child, a spouse, a friend since Matt and Travis’ death and the tournament is a way we can heal together.”

Lucas says organizing the tournament takes a lot of effort yet is well worth it. “The day is a culmination of so many people’s dedication. I hope the event quietly touches someone who needs extra support and shows them that life is worth living, just one day at a time. I hope someone sees that they are important and enough and there’s support in the community for them if they reach out. No matter how dark today is, tomorrow is a new day.”

The Orth Memorial Golf Tournament has a Facebook page where people can donate, learn how to participate or sponsor the event.

Discover how you can organize a CentraCare Foundation Charitable Partner event to support a cause close to your heart!