Christmas Golf Tournament raises funds for Buk bilong Pikinini

Thanks to sponsorship from Ela Motors, Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) was able to invite teams to compete in a fun-filled Christmas Charity Golf Tournament on Friday the 1st of December to raise funds for the organisation’s Early Childhood Education program.

The winners of the tournament, Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd. The team members were each able to take home a Smart TV donated by Brian Bell/Sir Brian Bell Foundation. The “runner up” team winning the 2nd prize was Kumul Minerals Team 2, who won generators sponsored by Ela Motors. The 3rd prize was won by the team members from BSP Financial Group Limited, who each won a “Family Fun pack”, which included a rice cooker from CHM, educational materials for children, lollies, self-care products and sports gear.

13 additional prizes, went for categories like ‘closest to the pin’, ‘longest drive’, ‘the Tarzan’ (shooting the ball into the trees), ‘best shot’, ‘worst shot’ as well as the ‘water hazard’ (shooting the ball into the pond to unsuspecting resident crocodiles) was great fun for all.

The participating teams met BbP children, had a great breakfast, enjoyed “on-the-course” snacks, drinks and returned to a healthy dinner prepared by the BbP team, thanks to sponsorship support from Ilimo & 9 Mile Farm, Meat Haus/ Food Pro, Sanitarium, Sweet Heart Bakery, Paradise Foods, Waterfront, CPL, Supreme Industries and Alibi Bar & Grill.

The event raised K113,500 this includes received a donation of K20,000 from the Rotary Club of Port Moresby President Robert Aisi, to support Port Moresby Schools with BbP’s popular School Library Kits.

BbP is grateful to Ela Motors for the opportunity to host the charity tournament, which was described by many participants as the “best organised” and “most enjoyable” tournament they had ever attended. BbP also just received a 15-seater bus from Ela Motors, allowing the organisation to better service its 12 Library Learning Centres in Port Moresby and provide the students with the opportunity to go on educational excursions.

Ela Motors CEO, Mitsuyoshi Okutsu, who took time out at the event to meet with BbP children and spoil them with lollies and fun in the photo booth, also invited BbP to host a similar event in 2024.

BbP Founder and Chairperson, Anne-Sophie Hermann said: “We are so grateful to our Diamond sponsor Ela Motors for the amazing opportunity for us to host a Christmas Golf Tournament. In addition to the recent donation of a bus valued at more than K100,000, the gift of the tournament K13,000 and generator prizes K3200 amounts to a very generous level of support, which will go a long way to support our mission to improve literacy and education outcomes for PNG’s children. Thank you Ela Motors.”

Thanks to a great “BbP family of donors”; Brian Bell, Sir Brian Bell Foundation, NWTL, Budget Rent A Car, PNG Air, Trukai, Supreme Group, Sanitarium, Ilimo, 9 Mile farm and Ela Motors coming together to support the event, players had a great time and were able to support BbP to welcome more children to attend its free Early Childhood Education program in 2024.

In order to celebrate the start to the festive season, BbP organised a name in the hat competition where guests could win Christmas presents for children to either give to their own or cheer up those who are less fortunate.