MOSES LAKE — In this day and age where people are gathering their news information online through a cellphone or electronic device, the Columbia Basin Herald is promoting the importance of print newspapers with its Ninth Annual Newspapers in Education Golf Tournament June 15 at the Moses Lake Golf Club.

The NIE program is a national program aimed at keeping students engaged in their local, state and national news while promoting the importance of newspapers as well as its social media sites.

Last year, the 19-team (76 players), scramble-format golf tournament raised close to $17,000 to help fund the NIE program for the 2016-17 school year. Organizers hope to build on that momentum to help students across 11 school districts in the Columbia Basin receive daily newspapers in the classroom. The funds raised will provide more than 1,000 daily newspapers into the Moses Lake, Ephrata, Quincy, Othello, Warden, Royal City and Mattawa school districts.

“Our biggest focus is to keep kids reading and engaging with their community through the local newspaper. Our NIE program is a great way to help kids unplug, but still engage with community,” said Eric LaFontaine, publisher, Columbia Basin Publishing Co. “Last year, we were extremely excited to have partnered with the Columbia Basin Foundation this year, which qualifies the event as a 501(c). I believe it’s really going to push us over that $18,000 goal.”

The Columbia Basin Foundation is a community foundation supported by a variety of charitable contributions. The foundation is a catalyst for producing relationships, based on service and integrity.

The NIE mission is to help with the educational process in a world filled with technological gadgets and a growing list of information sources. Students who use the newspaper in school show significantly more interest in local government, neighborhood events and current issues in foreign affairs. Studies also show that children who frequently read newspapers are more likely to be reading other sources of information. In a three-year study, NIE student groups showed significantly superior gains in spelling and vocabulary in their classrooms.

The $50 super ticket provides each team with five mulligans, 10 feet of string (typically used for putts) and eight tickets to enter a raffle for four high-end prizes, which includes a golf-and-stay package at the Coeur d’Alene Resort and Golf Course, a football tickets pack with Central Washington University season tickets and Washington State University game tickets, a golf tour of central Washington (two rounds of golf at six area courses) and two smokers donated by Home Depot.

“We had great feedback from last year’s teams, who won a ton of stuff since we only fielded 12 teams total,” LaFontaine said. “Nearly everyone walked away with a prize ranging from a barbecue, to a weekend golf and stay at the Coeur d’Alene Resort to college football tickets. We’re expecting a better turnout this year and better prizes to match.”

There are plenty of event sponsorship packages available ranging from $700 hole sponsor to the $2,500 event sponsor.

If you or your business would like to take advantage of the three available sponsorship categories contact the Columbia Basin Herald at 509-765-4561 or email Ashley Hoffer at ahoffer @columbiabasinherald.com.