Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JANUARY 2016 82 B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S B randSource members got into the holiday spirit in early December during the group's recent leadership conference in Phoenix as they combined teambuilding, philanthropy and the popular sport of golf to raise money for a local charity. More than 150 board members raised more than $6,000 for House of Refuge, a non-profit providing transitional housing and supportive services to homeless families in the Phoenix area. Sponsored by BrandSource and Whirlpool, retailers broke into teams of 10 and created their "best mini golf course" with a variety of materials including canned goods, non-perishable packaged foods, green astro-turf, screws, nails, glue, duct tape, cardboard, foam core, markers and cardboard tubes. Additional stations were available with paint, angle piping, PVC corners and miscellaneous craft items. "This was an incredibly creative, fun and unique team-building exercise that also made a positive impact on many people's lives," said Jim Ristow, CEO of BrandSource. "Everyone who participated enjoyed kicking off the holiday season in the true spirit of giving," Ristow remarked. Nancy Marion, executive director of House of Refuge, thanked the group and said that proceeds will help feed more than 80 families that are losing breakfast and lunch programs when school is out during the summer months. Broken into teams of 10, each group created a one-of-a-kind mini golf course with green "carpeting" as the putting surface. Canned goods, boxed goods and other building materials were used to create bumpers, turns and special obstacle challenges. Once the final courses were constructed, BrandSource executives acted as judges, played the courses and picked the winning team, which was The Greater Midwest Region. At the conclusion of the tournament, all of the food items were packaged by each team and donated to House of Refuge. ABOUT HOUSE OF REFUGE Since 1996, House of Refuge has served over 6,000 people, or roughly 2,400 families, and is one of the largest transitional housing facilities in Arizona. Situated on nearly 20 acres in Southeast Mesa, our program offers 82 two-bedroom single family homes and a chapel/support center which allows us to provide a stable, family-friendly environment to program participants. On any given day approximately 100 adults and 150 children call House of Refuge "home." Many come from a history of domestic violence and children often are the innocent victims. For more information, visit www.houseofrefuge.org. BRANDSOURCE M EM BERS COM PETE TO BUILD BEST M INI GOLF COURSE FOR CHARITY DURING LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Participants raise more than $6,000 in donations for Phoenix-based House of Refuge RO

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