Spring Swing Auction is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cleveland Country Club at 345 Kyle Lane. The sold-out golf tournament with be held June 15, beginning at 7 a.m. at the country club. The event is heavily attended by Maytag staff and suppliers as well as others in the corporate community. It is open to the public.
The annual event began in 1996 after a group of Maytag employees got together in Cleveland and decided to raise funds for Make-A-Wish. They chose to raise funds by holding their very own auction and even placing Maytag appliances on the auction block. Every year, the auction and golf tournament get bigger and better as more and more companies and citizens learn about the fundraiser. Now, as Whirlpool, the employees are continuing the tradition of the past.
Their mission is to continue to grow the auction and golf tournament, raising more funds to make sure the growing number of children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions every year are able to realize their one true wish. Also, the goal is to help raise awareness so communities can come together to make a difference for children and families when they need it the most.
In order to achieve their mission, offered are top-of-the-line Whirlpool appliances (including those from sister divisions), vacation deals, hotel stays at key vacation spots (on skis or a week at a beach), advertising packages, dinner parties, and much more.
So far, Whirlpool employees have raised more than $450,000 for Make-A-Wish and hope to raise $40,000 this year alone. The proceeds go to granting wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions across East Tennessee and specifically for children in the Cleveland and Chattanooga areas. Currently the chapter is working to grant 50 wishes. The average cost of a wish involving the child and his or whole family is $6,000.
