GOLFING TO

GIVE BACK

The 45th Annual Ben & Betty Zarda Family & Friends Golf Classic

You’re invited to the 45^th Annual Ben & Betty Zarda Family & Friends Golf Classic! We are returning to the amazing Canyon Farms Golf Club, a premiere golf destination in Lenexa, Kansas. Canyon Farms is a par 71 course that offers challenging play for golfers at every skill level. The event will be held this spring on Monday, May 4, 2026 and will continue to be a shotgun start format.

Families who rely on free or reduced-cost lunches throughout the school year to help feed their children turn to Catholic Charities’ food pantries, monthly mobile food distributions and our Kid’s Summer Food Program for extra help during the summer months. Unfortunately, that’s also a time when donations are down and our pantry shelves are growing empty. Thanks to the generosity of the tournament’s Fund-A-Need, we can provide families the food assistance they need. The impact of the Golf Classic on hungry families in our community is incredible. Since 1981, the event has raised over $4 million for Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas.

The Annual Ben & Betty Zarda Family & Friends Golf Classic benefits our food assistance initiatives, including the Kids Summer Food Program which distributed

30,796 meals & snacks

during the summer of 2025.

Event Details

The 45th Annual Ben & Betty Zarda Family & Friends Golf Classic

May 4, 2026

Canyon Farms Golf Club

17501 West 87th St. Pkwy
Lenexa, KS 66219

Order of Events

Practice ranges and registration opens
10:00 AM

Lunch, catered by Go Chicken Go
11:00 AM

Brief Program
11:50 AM

Shotgun Start
12:00 PM

Followed by an after play happy hour

Fund-A-Need: Playing with Purpose

Help Fight Food Insecurity

Your donation can help Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas feed families in need next summer!

The Legacy Lives On

archbishop joseph f. naumann with the zarda family at the 44th annual ben & betty zarda family golf classic

This year marks a special milestone as we gather for the 45th Annual Golf Classic — forty-five years of community, generosity and a shared commitment to making a difference. We’re proud to continue that tradition on May 4 at Canyon Farms, a setting that matches the spirit and quality of this long-standing event.

True to Ben’s guiding philosophy of “raising funds while having fun,” this year’s Golf Classic will once again bring together friends, supporters and partners for a memorable day on the course. Beyond the celebration, the impact remains at the heart of the event, with proceeds supporting critical programs including summer food assistance for the thousands of women, men and children who rely on Catholic Charities each day.

We hope you’ll join us on May 4, 2026, as we celebrate both a remarkable legacy and the meaningful work still ahead.

Thank you,

The Ben & Betty Zarda Family and Friends

Sponsorship Levels

All players, regardless of sponsorship level, receive lunch, gifts, round of golf and a happy hour social after play.

Presenting Sponsor | $15,000

Includes 8 players

Premium starting location at beginning of course
Prominent recognition on all event signage, banners on course, in printed program, on website, in 2027 invitation and in the 53rd Annual Snow Ball gala program book
Prominent recognition at the lunch and post-play happy hour
Hope Hero recognition in our May eNewsletter
Feature on our social media platforms
Opportunity to add branded item to player swag bag

Foundation Sponsor | $10,000

Includes 8 players

Premium starting location at beginning of course
Prominent recognition on all event signage, banners on course, in printed program, on website and in 2027 invitation
Prominent recognition at the lunch and post-play happy hour
Hope Hero recognition in our May eNewsletter
Feature on our social media platforms
Opportunity to add branded item to player swag bag

Underwriting Sponsor | $5,000

Includes 4 players

Prioritized starting hole location
Prominent recognition on all event signage, banners on course, in printed program, on website and in 2027 invitation
Prominent recognition at the lunch and post-play happy hour
Feature on our social media platforms
Opportunity to add branded item to player swag bag

Benefactor Sponsor | $3,000

Includes 4 players

Recognition on all event signage, in printed program and in 2027 invitation
Prominent recognition at lunch and post-play happy hour
Feature on our social media platforms

Individual | $500

Individual, $500 per registrant

*Please note that Donor Advised Funds cannot be accepted to purchase sponsorships or tickets that include goods or services.

Hole Sponsorships

19th Hole Sponsor | $2500

Only 1 Available

Exclusive sponsorship of the post-play happy hour
Recognition at the post-play happy hour and in event materials
Additional exclusive activation opportunity at the Hole-in-One hole to promote your business
Invitation for 4 guests to attend the post-play happy hour

Hole Sponsor | $1000

17 Available | More than one can be purchased

Logo exclusively shown to players upon their arrival at a single hole on the cart’s GPS device
Invitation for 2 guests to attend post-play happy hour
Hole sponsor sign at chosen hole

*Hole Sponsorships do not include round of golf

Summer Food Drought

During the summer months the number of individuals who use our food pantries increases by 27%. During the same timeframe, the amount of food and monetary donations we receive decreases nearly 50%. We refer to this as the Summer Food Drought.

30,796 NUTRITIOUS MEALS & SNACKS

helped feed hungry children who participated in our Kids Summer Food and after school meal programs at 28 metro and rural sites.

NEARLY $11.2 MILLION

worth of food was distributed to hungry individuals and families through our food assistance programs.

Registration & Fund-A-Need Information

Registration is now live! Please contact Lindsay Hamilton at [email protected] or 913.433.2068 with questions.

The 2026 Golf Classic is sold out. If you are interested in playing, please reach out to Lindsay Hamilton to be added to the wait list at [email protected].

Although we are sold out, there’s still time to make a Fund A Need gift to support our food assistance initiatives. Please consider a Fund A Need gift today.

Thank You to the Sponsors of Our 2025 Golf Classic

Foundation & Presenting Sponsors

2025 Underwriting Sponsors

2025 Hole Sponsors

Alpine Litho-Graphics
Catholic Community Health
Creative Planning, Inc.
Dogwood Wealth Management
Fully Promoted Branded Apparel & Promotional Products - Lawrence
JS Robinson Fine Homes & Nancy and Jeff Robinson
McCarthy Auto Group
Outdoor Bank
Site Rite Construction Co.
UMB Bank, N.A.
The Tom and Mickey Zarda Family

2025 Fund-A-Need Supporters

Anonymous
Bank of Labor
Mr. and Mrs. A. Kent Best
Mr. Warren D. Cawley
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas G. Ciocca
Mr. and Mrs. Matt Haynes
John J. Sullivan, Jr. Charitable Trust
Mr. Jeffrey C. Kembel
Mrs. Rita Lavery
Steve and Martha Lawrence
Ralph and Jan Lewis
Timothy and Anita Link
Mel and Pat McAnany
Timothy and Alesia McAnany
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Merwald
Jack and Kathy Newman
Mr. John F. Plouff, Jr.
Mr. And Mrs. David Prather
Providence Medical Center
R/S Electric
Kevin and Kim Reichmuth
Mr. and Mrs. Colby L. Rieke
Randy and Mary Sheridan
Mr. and Mrs. William W. Taylor
The Bernie and Karen Zarda Family

Special Thanks to the Golf Classic Committee

Marla Zarda Chandler

Phil Connealy

Kristen Fanning

Craig Gaffney

Pat McAnany

Colby Rieke

Dana Zarda Rieke

Nancy Zarda Sayler

Michael Scott

Sean Scott

Karen Zarda Sneed

John Southard

Ernie Straub

Bernie Zarda

Lilli Zarda

Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas offers 25+ programs across 21 counties.

We serve our neighbors, of all faiths, through Help, Hope & Hospitality.

“Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”