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Kathy gets you “up to par” with the Medical VIPs and Health Care leaders who hit the links
It was not only what the doctor ordered – but the Banner Health Charity Pro-Am had multiple other benefits for those on and of the golf course. When a group of medical VIPs, corporate execs and community leaders took to the links for the annual fundraiser it was quite the “healthy” endeavor.
Yes, golf is great exercise (even if you ride in the golf cart, swinging a club and putting are also physical workouts, because the repetitions tone muscles in the arms , back and shoulders and improve flexibity and range of motion. Not to mention it helps strengthen hand eye coordination and balance. ) But this annual tournament helps keep the heart of the Banner School Based Health Centers- beating strongly.
Proceeds from this year’s tournament of 92 golfers at the Grayhawk Golf Club will support an array of hospital-based pediatric programs including oncology, rehabilitation, integrative therapies. It is also the leading source of funding for Banner School-Based Health Centers.
Pictured above at the event are Ed Sandidge, president of Arizona Medical Network and Chip Carmer, who serves on the Banner Health Foundation board of directors. Arizona Medical Network has sponsored the tournament for 11 years and has supported pediatric programs which benefit from the Banner Health Charity Pro-Am, including Banner School-Based Health Centers. Over that time, the company has provided sponsorship totaling more than $228,000.
Ed Sandidge (also known as Fast Eddie) founded the nonprofit Arizona Medical Network, one of the first Arizona preferred provider organizations (PPO), nearly three decades ago as a means for providing consumers and employers with an affordable health care plan that offered access to a network of high-quality physicians.
Clark Sauer, John Niziolek, Craig Jensen and Ken Carpenter.
The winning foursome of the 2011 Pro-Am who are pictured above were Kitchell’s Clark Sauer, John Niziolek, Craig Jensen and their golf pro, Ken Carpenter. The “winning” beneficiary is the Banner Health School Based Health Centers which assists medically underserved students. This vital community program, oversees visits to students during the school day in order to avoid absences. They often provide the early detection and treatment of minor health problems before they graduate into more severe and costly issues. With three locations across the Valley, Banner School-Based Health Centers do not charge patients for their care.
Ken Van Winkle and Ed Sandidge
The golf tournament is among Banner Health’s major signature fundraisers in the fall including “A Night to Remember” for Banner Alzheimer’s held at the W Hotel, “Stars of the Season” at the Montelucia Resort and Candlelight Capers Ball at the Arizona Biltmore.
Kathy Shayna Shocket is a Phoenix based reporter and photographer. If you have an interesting item for The AZ Insider, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
