Nonprofits Win $42,000 at 11th First Business Bank Charity Golf Invitational – Madison

First Business Bank is pleased to announce the winning nonprofits and golfers who played for them in the annual First Business Bank Charity Golf Invitational – Madison on Wednesday, September 21. The event has raised more than $670,000 for nonprofits in Madison and Milwaukee over the past 11 years.

Local business leaders compete in two-person teams in the First Business Bank Charity Golf Invitational on behalf of a local charity of their choice. First Business Bank covers 100% of the event costs. Yesterday’s invitational included a chip-off for first place and a four-way tie for fourth place.

Winning golfers and charities from the event hosted at Nakoma Golf Club include:

• First Place: $20,000 won on behalf of Garding Against Cancer by Jeff Beckmann and Tim Cleary
• Second Place: $10,000 won on behalf of The ACI and Schwenn Family Professorship by Connor Meloy and Eric Helt
• Third Place: $6,000 won on behalf of Ice Inc. by Sean O’Brien and Tim Pellitteri
• Fourth Place: $1,500 won on behalf of Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM) by Jacob Klein and Aaron Kostichka
• Fourth Place: $1,500 won on behalf of The Lemon Brothers Fund at Carbone Cancer Center by James Imhoff and Tim McIlwain
• Fourth Place: $1,500 won on behalf of Badger Honor Flight by Jeff Knatz and Brad Niebuhr
• Fourth Place: $1,500 won on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County by Michael Johnson and McClain Gitch

“We’re thrilled to have Jeff Beckmann and Tim Cleary play on behalf of Garding Against Cancer, a UW Carbone Cancer Center initiative started by Wisconsin Men’s Basketball Coach Greg Gard and his wife Michelle,” said Heather Garrison, development program manager of Garding Against Cancer. “All the money raised stays in Wisconsin for research at the University of Wisconsin’s Carbone Cancer Center and for patient care around the state of Wisconsin. This is just such a unique event. There are hundreds of golf outings every summer and they’re all amazing. However, it is unique to bring our nonprofit community together and lovely to spotlight all the good work done here in Madison.”

The two golfers, who started golfing together four years ago in the First Business Bank Charity Golf Invitational – Madison, were matched by Garding Against Cancer. Over the last four years, they’ve won $55,000 for the organization.

“When First Business Bank started putting this golf event on years ago, I played for other charities but the last few years it became all about the Carbone Cancer Center and Garding Against Cancer,” said Tim Cleary, executive vice president of Ideal Builders, whose family has been particularly impacted by cancer. “Someone I was paired with couldn’t make it, so I called Heather Garrison and she asked if I knew Jeff Beckmann, who was a big supporter. It was serendipitous and it has been a great friendship. It’s been a great cause, and so great the way it happened — accidental, but on purpose, to support the Carbone Cancer Center.”

“Every year, the passion to win for nonprofits is profound,” said Jim Hartlieb, president of First Business Bank. “There’s pride in the win, but so much more satisfaction from the unbudgeted, large donations the event facilitates to local nonprofits. I’m so proud First Business Bank helps make this happen, along with our generous golfers and their sponsoring companies.”