Charity golf tournament to be held in Noxon

NOXON - You don’t have to be a golfer in order to participate in the silent auction in this year’s Avista’s 5th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Aug. 17 to benefit the Sanders County Coalition for Families. This year, you’ll be able to call a special phone number during the live auction and place your bid. This new phone-in feature will expand the number of people in the community who can get involved with the fundraising event.

“We really want to let the entire community participate in this important event,” said Tournament Co-Chair Tim Swant of Avista. “Last year, we displayed the silent auction items at the Thompson Falls Public Library and at the Rocky Mountain Bank so people could make a bid prior to the event. This year, we wanted to let people continue to place their bids during the actual golf tournament. So we’ve made it quick and easy – you can phone in your bid on the day of the event by calling 406-274-8743 to be part of the excitement before the auction closes.”

Proceeds to benefit Sanders County Coalition for Families

Avista will hold the four-person scramble at the River’s Bend Golf Course in Thompson Falls, Saturday, Aug. 17 at 9:30 a.m. MDT.

This year, all the money raised will support the Sanders County Coalition for Families and benefit victims of child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking in Sanders County.

“Sanders County Coalition for Families is honored and thrilled to have been chosen as the recipient of this year’s Avista’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament. Our program is funded exclusively through state and federal grants, yet none of the funds are allowed to be used for ‘direct services’ such as food and gas vouchers, utility and rental assistance,” said Gayle Seratt, Sanders County Coalition for Families Executive Director. “The proceeds from this Avista event will be 100 percent applied to meet these very basic needs of victims and their families. During the past year, the Coalition provided services to 122 victims of domestic violence, 19 victims of sexual assault, 17 victims of child sexual assault and 22 victims of child physical abuse. This charity event will allow the Coalition to continue to provide these services in Sanders County. “

You can still get involved

There is still room to register to participate in the golf tournament. We are still accepting hole and pin prize sponsor cash donations and silent auction items are still needed. The current list of donated packages includes golf packages at The Idaho Club, StoneRidge along with local courses in Libby, Thompson Falls and Sandpoint. Other auction items range from a beautiful set of patio furniture to ski lift tickets for Blacktail Mountain Resort, Whitefish Mountain Resort and Glacier Park.

Silent auction bidding commences at noon on Aug. 7 and runs through Aug. 17. From August 7 -15 bidders can view silent auction items and place their bids at the Thompson Falls Public Library, 911 Main St. Thompson Falls, Mont. or at the Rocky Mountain Bank, 108 East Railroad Ave. Plains, Mont.

To reflect the highest bid on a single item simultaneously, silent auction officials will update the bid cards periodically.

During the Avista Charity Golf Tournament, bidders can view silent auction items and place their bids at Thompson Falls Golf Course or call (406) 274-8743 to find out the current bid and decide whether they’d like to place their own bid. The auction will close at 2 p.m. MDT, Saturday Aug. 17, 2013.

To offer support by donating prizes, or sponsoring the event, contact Tim Swant at

847-1282 or Seratt at 827-3218.

Avista Corp. is an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Utilities is our operating division that provides electric service to 362,000 customers and natural gas to 320,000 customers. Our service territory covers 30,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.5 million. Avista’s primary, non-regulated subsidiary is Ecova. Our stock is traded under the ticker symbol “AVA.” For more information about Avista, please visit www.avistacorp.com.