The Mineral County Medical Foundation is the fundraising arm for Mineral Community Hospital. The foundation has its own volunteer board of directors (and are looking for more currently) while they work in step with the hospital board of directors and CEO.

When unexpected needs surface, the hospital board might ask the MCMF if they could work together splitting costs or maybe the foundation could tackle it alone. Both scenarios have worked but there have also been times that even with both organizations pulling together, the cost is still too much so the exploration for a grant(s) commences. 

Recently, people enjoyed ribs, fried pickles and French fries at the Mineral County Fair that the MCMF was selling as their booth was staffed by board members of both organizations and hospital employees. Next to the golf tournament, the fair booth is the largest fundraising project for the foundation.

This will be the 19th year of the Annual Golf Tournament and it is honoring the memory of Dr. Yong Ho Park. Dr. Park practiced medicine at Mineral Community Hospital and surrounding areas from 1980-2006 and he passed earlier this year. 

“His dedication to his patients was unmatched,” remembers Laurel Chambers who worked with Dr. Parks when she was a PA-C at the hospital. “He was an incredible meticulous surgeon that we saw do amazing work in this small town. Very complex surgeries were performed in a rural area. He was certainly ahead of his time.” 

His obituary reads, "Dr. Parks loved God and he loved Superior. He once said that Superior was the place that God wanted him to be and it always reminded him of his hometown, Seoul City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea (ROK)."

This year’s event is to raise funds for the Dr. Park Legacy Fund for Continuing Education for the employees of MCH.

The tournament will tee off with a shotgun start at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 7 at the Trestle Creek Golf Course in St. Regis. Check-in will begin at 9 a.m. with coffee, doughnuts and fruit and teams will be assigned to their starting location. 

Businesses and individuals who may not care to participate can still help by sponsoring a hole, fairway, golf cart, even a team of four, or additional options to help sponsor this very worthwhile charitable event. The $50,000 Hole-in-One Prize returns and this year a prize will be given to the Best Dressed Team. Plan on an auction during a delicious lunch that will most likely be UM Griz themed during the awards and prizes with everything wrapping up around 2 or 3 p.m.

Questions on registration or sponsorship can be directed to Erin Woodson ((406) 822-3702 or ewoodson@mchospital.net by Friday Aug. 30.