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ENERGY – Nearly 200 Southern Illinois residents gathered at Pine Lakes Golf Course in Energy to participate in the Garnati Golf Day for Kids.

Over the years the event has generated more than $300,000 in funds for the Child Advocacy Center in Herrin and Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) of Williamson County.

The golf outing started a quarter century ago as a campaign fundraiser for Williamson County State’s Attorney Chuck Garnati.

“We’ve done 25 years and the last 13 years we’ve donated all the money to two agencies that fight child sexual abuse,” Garnati said. “We’re over $300,000, last year we went over $300,000. We hope to raise between $25-30,000 a year.

“I kind of decided to do it about 13 years ago. I felt I didn’t need the campaign money. The kids need it a lot more than I do. We started it and it’s just grown by leaps and bounds every year.”

The Garnati Golf Day draws about 30 teams for the six-person scramble. The day is filled with golf, raffles and auctions. The tournament staff solicits donations from area businesses.

“They (businesses) definitely do respond, everybody does,” Garnati said. “It’s not just Williamson County, but just all over Southern Illinois.”