MUSCATINE, Iowa — The annual fundraiser for Muscatine Charities Inc. is not all about the money used to help area children, seniors and the less fortunate.

“We’re not just out to raise funds,” said Tom Reidel, who sits on Muscatine Charities’ board of directors. “We’re out to have people have fun at the event.”

The volunteer organization will host its annual FunRaiser golf outing Thursday, June 25, at Gevena Golf and Country Club.

The event includes a cookout lunch, contests, raffles prizes, live and silent auctions and evening dinner.

In 2008, the FunRaiser generated $205,000 that Muscatine Charities Inc. distributed to 30 causes and three self-initiated programs.

“We have a big challenge ahead of us this year because we are in a recession,” said treasurer John Axel.

He estimated Muscatine Charities will spend $60,000 to $65,000 this year on its educational programs, which include:

— Preschool scholarships: 100 are awarded each year to boost children’s success in school

— After School Homework Help: 430 students in third through eighth grades received help from teachers after school

— CAMP (Center for After School and Morning Program): Students participate in character-building activities and receive scholastic help.

Reidel said Muscatine Charities has 39 outside requests totalling $172,000 in 2009.

“That is up over an average year,” he said.

Muscatine Charities is the sole sponsor of the Muscatine Police Department’s mentoring program.

“We’re hoping to influence (students) to be good kids, and we hope the mentor will be that role model,” said Lt. Phil Sargent.

“Part of that is staying in school and helping them stay in school,” he said.

Fourteen high school students who mentored about 70 children last year were paid with a $5,000 contribution from Muscatine Charities.

“Without their generous support and the community’s support through Muscatine Charities, we wouldn’t have any funding,” Sargent said. “And the program would go away.”

Details

What: Muscatine Charities FunRaiser golf outing

When: 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., Thursday, June 25

Where: Geneva Golf and Country Club

Register: By June 15. Call 563-262-8894 or email

muscatinecharities@machlink.com

Online

www.muscatinecharities.org