The eighth annual Dove House Golf Benefit at Port Ludlow Aug. 23 drew 111 golfers and raised at least $18,000 for Dove House Advocacy Services.

The Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Boeing Bluebills organize the annual tournament to raise funds for the local nonprofit serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and the event fell just short of their goal of 120 golfers, after drawing 96 players each in 2017 and 2018.

The fundraising also marks the high end of the range for the event, which Barbara Berthiaume estimated tends to raise between $12,000 and $15,000 each year for Dove House.

Berthiaume chairs the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Boeing Bluebills, in addition to co-chairing the annual Dove House Golf Benefit with chapter vice chair Myron Vogt, and she described the golf tournament as “our major fundraiser” for the year.

The golf benefit also drew 29 raffle items from 28 donors, with most of the 111 players buying raffle tickets.

Among the tournament winners were:

• In the ladies’ flight, Debi Bozanich, Mandy Whipple, Lucinda Thompson and Carolyn Carter in first place, with a score of 68; and Beth Weaver, Linda DeForest, Turney Oswald and Caryl Oros in second place, with a score of 71.

• In the mixed flight, Pat and Kathy Traci, with subs Adam Barrows and Brayden Yingling, in first place, with a score of 60; Joe Vozarik, Victoria Barri, Nick Federer and John Griffith in second place, with a score of 62; and Karen and Jesse Best, with Forest and Barb Aldrich, in third place, with a score of 63.

• In the men’s flight, John Germain, Shelly Washburn, Steve Hendrick and Roger Reighard in first place, with a score of 53; Rick Smith, Jeff Forville, Chris Collier and Glen Bell in second place, with a score of 59; Dave Jackson, Dave Wheeler, Mike Nilssen and Terry Umbreit in third place, with a score of 65; and Richard Boyd, Doug Lewis, Ron Germeau and Jon Volker in fourth place, with a score of 66.

Bekka Bloom, development admin assistant for Dove House Advocacy Services, described the funds raised by the golf benefit as “absolutely key” in supporting the successes of the domestic and sexual violence survivors, and their children, who come to Dove House each year, seeking support to stay safe and rebuild healthy lives.

“A young woman who was just entering adulthood stayed in our shelter for several months this past year,” Bloom said. “She worked with her advocate on learning about living on her own, and being responsible for her own finances and well-being for the first time.”

When the young woman expressed a desire to find employment and earn her GED, Bloom recounted how the woman’s advocate went with her to explore potential workplaces and meet with a GED advisor.

“She was hired locally, studied for and received her GED, found a place to live, opened her first bank account, and has begun exploring options for college,” Bloom said. “During the multi-month process, the funds raised from this golf tournament made all the difference for this individual. That money was used to provide incentives like going out for coffee with her advocate, paying for the GED tests, work clothing, move-in costs, and travel to colleges in Edmonds and elsewhere to explore her next steps.”

Bloom listed other common items needed by families, that funds from the Bluebills’ tourney pay for:

• New locks on home doors.

• A meal for a working mom and her children at Thanksgiving. “Mom was unable to get to the food bank due to work hours,” Bloom said.

• First and last months’ rent and security deposits to obtain affordable housing units, plus rent to support current housing, and help catching up with utility bills.

• Purchases of wood to heat homes.

• Car repair, bus passes, and costs to obtain vehicle titles, registrations and first insurance payments on cars donated to clients.

• Purchases of new sheets, so that survivors don’t have to sleep on sheets used by their abusers.

• Costs to obtain phone service in the survivor’s name, when their abusers previously controlled the utilities.

• School activities fees.

• Costs of making it possible for a child to attend summer camp, including transportation.

• Childcare.

• Court document fees.

• Laundry costs.

• Driving school fees.

Looking ahead, the Bluebills are already raising money for K-8 students in the Chimacum School District to buy school supplies.

Berthiaume requested that $35 donations be dropped off at the Port Ludlow Beach or Bay Club, or mailed to the Bluebills at 120 Spinnaker Place, Port Ludlow, WA 98365.

“We are also distributing school supplies from Word Vision to all Title 1 schools in Jefferson, Clallam and Kitsap counties,” Berthiaume said. “We have created a new ‘Independent Living’ program, aimed at helping people prepare for the challenges that come with getting older.”

“Independent Living” is a two-hour program, made up of presentations by relevant agencies and organizations, which is slated to come to the Tri-Area Community Center in Chimacum on Sept. 14 at 1 p.m., with subjects set to include funding home modifications, weatherization, fall prevention, Medicare and health insurance, elder legal advice and advance directives.