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When looking for a charity to receive the proceeds of their annual charity golf tournament, local business owners Jeanna Mihalka and her husband Mark didn’t have to go far this year.
Mihalka, whose husband and his brother Joe own eight Liberty Tax Service offices in the area, said the tournament planned for May will benefit 2-year-old Billy Hughes of Laflin, and his family.
“We always try to do someone local,” Mihalka said Sunday.
Last year the tournament raised approximately $13,000 for melanoma awareness. The year before that, it was for breast cancer awareness.
The goal is to top $13,000, but Mihalka said whatever amount they raise “would be wonderful.”
The money will be given to Carol and Bill Hughes, the boy’s parents, to use as they chose. Last year they took their child to Panama for stem cell treatments. Mihalka said the family is planning another trip there this summer.
According to the flyer promoting the tournament, Billy has shown improvement, with better neck control and vision, less stiffness and a change in his muscle tone and better control of his arms and hands.
This month is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month and a T-shirt sale is underway to raise additional funds for the family, Mihalka said.
Word of mouth
Mihalka said word of mouth brought the family’s struggles with expenses and medical care to her attention.
“Billy’s parents are friends with my brother-in- law. We thought, ‘Wow, this would be a great thing to do,’” she said.
The family is aware of the fundraising efforts and is “extremely happy,” Mihalka said.
According to the fundraiser website, Billy was born Sept. 7, 2012 by emergency cesarean because there was a blood clot in his umbilical cord which was cutting off the flow of blood and oxygen to him and his vital organs.
Because of that, Billy has a severe brain injury, and suffers from Cerebral Palsy and several other conditions.
Billy and his mother are at the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in Allentown, where he is receiving therapy, Mihalka added.
Tourney details
The tournament is set for 8 a.m. on May 23 at the Wilkes-Barre Municipal Golf Course. A mixer will be held the night before at the Red Mill Tavern in Pittston. The tournaments, held the past seven years, attract between 90 and 100 golfers annually, Mihalka said.
For anyone in the neighborhood, donations also can be made at the eight Liberty Tax offices in Carbondale, Dunmore, Hazleton, Pittston, the Pittston Township Walmart, Plains Township, North Scranton and South Scranton.