History
2004
$100,000 Raised for Hospital Clinic in Belize
Thirty years ago Bob experienced his first fundraising endeavor. While attending a friend's wedding in San Pedro, Belize, C.A., Bob fell in love with the people and the small town. He asked Dr. Lerida Rodriquez, one of the two doctors on the island of Ambergris Caye, how he could help. "We need an incubator," she replied, "Too many newborns die because we cannot reach the mainland in time." "I think we can handle that," promised Kurtz.
Within a week a new incubator arrived by boat and was installed in the San Pedro Health Clinic. "It was easy," said Kurtz, "I simply went to our local hospital and they donated the incubator and a friend (Barry McGriff of McGriff Industries) who owned a trucking company sent it to Miami where another friend who was shipping golf carts to the island brought the needed infant item to the clinic.
That golf cart businessman was Bob's friend and former Korean War fighter pilot, Captain Harry Ringler. Harry, retired from American Airlines, commuted back and forth to Belize and Bob often joined him. San Pedro's Lions Club approached the pair with a new and more challenging task: the town needed a hospital. Bob and Harry quickly responded and an ambitious plan began with Harry' and Bob's friends and St. John's Church of Cullman, Alabama. Over $100,000 was raised through various individuals contributions, and a dream was realized! Bob was invited to speak at the dedication of the new facility, the San Pedro Medical Clinic.
2006
$53,000 Raised Whit's Place - Orphanage in Kenya Africa
Serving St. John's Church in Alabama as Senior Pastor, Bob became involved in a new outreach. The church's Missions Committee decided to raise money for an Orphanage in Kenya, Africa.
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Here Bob's commitment to golf was used for the first time to help others. The Committee voted on a unique fundraiser where Bob would play as many holes of golf as he possibly could in one day.
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The money was raised through pledges per golf hole played that day. Bob played 188 holes which led to the creation of decades long Golf Ironman Fundraising events. The money from that first day built a new kitchen for the orphanage, and even more, the charity Kenya Relief was formed.
2007
$47,000 raised for Whit's Place
With such a successful fundraising effort, the same Missions committee of the church voted to repeat the effort. Many more people joined in making pledges and Bob played an amazing 220 holes of golf but a lesson was learned as everyone was more cautious with their personal pledge of money per hole played.
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Still, a generous contribution was made to the Kenya Relief charity.
June 4, 2008
Ironman's First Marathon for Charity
After playing 220 holes of golf in one day, Bob became interested in discovering the record for most golf holes played in a single day. The PGA Section had no record, neither did the National Golf Foundation. Finally, Bob contacted Guinness World Records and a new association and bond was formed. Guinness told him they had no record for one day but the mark for most consecutive holes played was 400 and on June 4, 2008, Bob played 405 holes day and night to benefit ten worthwhile charities. All received $10,000.
2008 Ironman Charities:
Daystar (abused women and children)
Harbor House (abused women and children)
Pilot Light Home (abused children)
Brooks Place (sexually abused children)
Connie's Place (developmentally disabled children)
Margaret Jean Jones Center
Whit's Place and Orphanage (Kenya)
Forgotten Children (Honduras)
San Pedro Belize Hospital
2009
Ironman's Amazing Marathon
Golf's Ironman and Ministries To Children became a team in 2009. Bob believed he needed a vehicle to accommodate his future of fundraising through golf marathons, MTC was created with a Board of Directors and Officers.
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Bob wondered how many holes of golf he could play without stopping. He committed to a marathon event where he set a world record, playing an astonishing 500 consecutive holes without sleep or rest. The ordeal took almost forty hours and raised $102,000 for children's charities.
2010
Ministries to Children Formally Established
In 2010 Ministries to Children Inc. was recognized as a 501C3 charity by the Internal Revenue Service of United States of America. All contributions to MTC are fully tax deductible.
2011
Ripley's Believe it or Not and Guinness World Records
"Absolutely Amazing"
Those two words describe Guinness World Records events and also describe what Bob did in June 2011. He set a GWR mark for playing the Most Holes Of Golf In One Week--1,850. At Quail Creek Country Club in Hartselle, Alabama , he set a record so amazing it was acknowledged in Ripley's Believe It or Not. The event again raised over $100,000 for children's charities with the monies distributed by MTC.
2016
Diamond Jubilee Challenge
On his 75th Birthday, Bob played three different courses that day and shot his age or lower three times, raising monies for local children's charities.
2017
"While We're Young" Golf Tournament and Exhibition
This fun-filled Golf Scramble featured Rodney Dangerfield impersonator Marc Melzer as the crazy character from the movie "Caddy Shack." He interacted with each of the teams in the event.
"While We're Young" raised over $25,000 for Ministries To Children.
2019
Clothing and Cocktails Benefit
At this annual fundraiser which benefitted the charity "A New Leaf," Golf's Ironman was auctioned off. The high bid was $1,200.00 for a playing lesson with Bob and all the money went directly to "A New Leaf." The event raised over $125,000.
2021
Top Golf - Ironman 1,000
With his good and growing relationship with "A New Leaf" charity, Bob was approached to help raise money by setting a record at Top Golf in Scottsdale, Arizona. "Ironman 1,000" featured Bob hitting over a thousand drives at the popular facility with pledges totaling over $32,000. "A New Leaf" helps single moms and specializes in providing temporary housing, family support and victims of violence services.
A second version of "Ironman 1,000" followed when Bob again hit over a thousand drives at Ancala Country Club in Scottsdale and raised nearly $12,000 in pledges for another significant children's charity, "Family Promise."
2022
Ironman 1,000
2023
Lefty-Righty
Looking for another unique fundraising idea, Bob decided to try to become the first golfer ever to shoot their age both left-handed and right-handed on the same day. On April 24, the "Both Sides Now Charity Challenge" at Ancala Country Club raised over $20,000 for Ministries To Children with funds also going to "A New Leaf" and "Family Promise."
MTC Supports Family Promise
2023 and Beyond
The "Both Sides Now" event did not set the mark of scoring one's age or lower both right-handed and left-handed. Bob will continue to strive to set that record with all pledges going to Ministries To Children.
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A most important step for Ministries To Children was the forming of the LLC "Making Taxes Count" which is an official Qualified Charitable Organization (QCO) recognized by the Department of Revenue of Arizona. As a QCO the ministry can and will donate directly to families in need.
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As the "Ironman of Golf," Bob and MTC plan to focus on appearances and speaking engagements as the fundraising emphasis in the months and years to come.