Tapatio Springs event raises $250,000 for wounded warriors
Wednesday, November 28th
It’s amazing what can happen when a few folks
get together to play golf.
Recently, Tom Cusick and George Strait, owners
of The Resort at Tapatio Springs, invited
some folks to join them for their second annual
Vaqueros del Mar celebration, held this year at
The Range at Leon Springs and The Resort at
Tapatio Springs.
By the time everyone left for home, over
$250,000 in donations for the Troops First Foundation
had been left behind.
Cusick and Strait were joined by former professional
golfer and Troops First Foundation
co-founder David Feherty, co-founder Rick Kell,
and the world’s top golf instructor, Butch Harmon.
Singers Randy Rogers, Ray Benson of Asleep at
the Wheel, Jamey Johnson, Wade Bowen and
Kyle Park rounded out an unbelievable night of
entertainment topped off with The King of Country
Music on stage for over 45 minutes.
“I had hoped to raise at least $50,000 for our
wounded warriors, and this event way exceeded
my expectations,” Cusick said of the fundraiser.
“With the addition of Feherty, Harmon as well
as all the entertainers, we received a lot of face
book and twitter activity for Boerne all over the
world”.
The two-day celebration was hosted by the
Strait and the Cusick families to benefit the
foundation which provides assistance to service
members who have suffered devastating injuries
while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over 450
people from all over attended, including some
from destinations as far away as Pebble Beach,
California, Yellowstone, Wyoming, Cabo San
Lucas, Mexico, Scottsdale, Arizona and the states
of Iowa and Kansas.
The events kicked off Saturday, Nov. 3, with a
cocktail reception at The Range at Leon Springs
on I-10 in Leon Springs. Guests enjoyed food,
music and an entertaining clinic from Harmon.
While the Hole in One Shoot Out was enjoyed
by many and the pressure of the audience intensified,
no one was able to win the new Cavender
Chevrolet offered.
The celebration continued Sunday, Nov. 4, at
The Resort at Tapatio Springs where participants
competed in a golf tournament. Following the
tournament, dinner, drinks and a jam session featuring
Benson, Johnson, Rogers, Bowen and Park
was enjoyed by the many guests on hand
The largest donation, $105,000, was given during
an auction for a Las Vegas package that
included four tickets to Strait’s Super Bowl Weekend
concert, private jet transportation, a guitar
signed by Strait, and a private golf clinic with
Harmon. According to Cusick, during the auction
Strait donated his boots and shirt, followed
by Feherty, who donated his boots and signature
vest. “The price just kept climbing,” Cusick said.
Terry Warren and Bob Fair of Odessa, Texas
claimed the package.
Another popular auction item proved to be a
five-night stay at the Cusick’s “C Forever” property
in Telluride, Colorado. So popular, in fact, it
was auctioned off twice. After the item was won
by Mr. and Mrs. David Stasky, the same package
was offered again. The second winner was
Mary Jane Simpson of Columbus, Kansas. The
two packages raised over $45,000, according to
Cusick.
Other auction items included exotic boots by
Luchesse from Ranch at the Rim, four tickets
to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, and
a Pebble Beach golf package which included
rounds at Cypress Point, Spanish Bay, Spyglass,
and Pebble Beach.
