Brookshire Brothers' category buyers, executives and store directors took their "A" game out of the store and out of the corporate headquarters Monday and onto the golf course for its semi-annual golf tournament. In September and May each year, the Lufkin-based grocery chain invites its vendors to tee-it-up for a good cause.  Teams pay up to $3500 in entry fees for the privilege of playing in the tournament that benefits theBrookshire Brothers Charitable Foundation.  Since its inception, that Foundation has given nearly $1,450,000 in contributions to non-profit organizations in its market area.

 

Representatives from Kraft, Budweiser, General Mills and Value Merchandisers hit the links at Crown Colony Country Club Monday, September 16th with their Brookshire Brothers colleagues.  Crown runs two tournaments on the same day, optimizing the course and the fundraising opportunities for the Foundation.  The demand for a spot to play frequently exceeds the availability, which in CEO Jerry Johnson's words, "Is a good problem to have."  Brookshire Brothers' Johnson adds, "We are overwhelmed at the generosity of our vendor community.  By playing in our tournament, they enable us to support non-profits like the American Cancer Society, the Boys and Girls Club of Deep East Texas, the Alzheimer's Association,  the Angelian Arts Alliance and the Volunteer Services Council of the Lufkin State Supported Living Center.  Those non-profits are the true foot soldiers and champions in our market area."

 

During this year's awards ceremonies, golfers got a big thank you from two of the recipients.  Laura Squiers with the East Texas Alliance for Children and Gorden Henley with Friends of the Ellen Trout Zoo both shared stories of how the Foundation's funds allow them to further their mission.

 

Brookshire Brothers is an employee-owned grocery chain operating 78 stores and 14 convenience stores stretching west from Wimberley, Texas to Lake Charles, Louisiana in the east, north from Tatum, Texas and south to Ganado, Texas.