Mario Chalmers' Foundation Fundraiser Kicks Off

July 22, 2010

LAWERENCE, Kan. – The second annual National Championship Golf Classic continued Friday afternoon with opening ceremonies at Alvamar.

Former players from the 2008 national championship team came out to support former teammate Mario Chalmers and his Mario V. Chalmers Foundation with a social and live/silent auction at the Oread Hotel Thursday night and teed off in a four-man scramble tournament today.

The event is hosted by the Mario V. Chalmers Foundation and supports programs to encourage positive development of youth through sports and promotion of healthy lifestyle efforts as well as support initiative and research for breast cancer.

Five members of the 2008 NCAA National Championship team were present at the social, including 2008 Most Outstanding Player Mario Chalmers and starter Russell Robinson. Also present were Brennan Bechard, Matt Kleinmann and Brady Morningstar.

Friday, other prominent members of the KU Athletics community such as Athletics Director Lew Perkins and head football coach Turner Gill hit the greens in support of the Jayhawk alum’s cause.

“There are very, very special people here at this event and I’m looking forward to seeing them all,” Perkins said. “You never lose those relationships with your former teammates. You might not see them and you might not be able to talk as much but you never lose those.

“You will never lose the relationship you had because of playing on a national championship team.”

For more information on the event go to: www.nationalchampionshipclassic.com.