Annual ball drop at Harvest Golf Club raises funds for BGC Okanagan
Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, August 12, 2026
One lucky winner of the Acera Insurance Golf 4 Kids ball drop in support of the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club (BGC Okanagan) walked away with a prize getaway package valued at $5,240.
The ball drop took place at the Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna on Aug. 12, with funds supporting different programs at BGC Okanagan.
Hundreds of golf balls were dropped from a boom-lift above the putting green, with the closest ball to the pin taking home the grand prize of a voucher for two anywhere WestJet flies, a two-night stay at Tinhorn Creek Winery, a winery tasting and tour for up to four people, and a round of golf at Twin Lakes.
The annual event typically hosts a golf tournament each year that also raises money for BGC Okanagan, but it was ultimately cancelled due to several wildfires burning in the Okanagan.
“We felt it wasn’t the right thing to do with so many families displaced and the need for hotels and other things in our community,” said Jeremy Welder, president and CEO of BGC Okanagan.
“When the fire started in Summerland, we just felt that it wasn’t the right time to be doing a fun golf tournament, that there are serious things that our community needs to be dealing with right now.”
Despite roughly 140 golfers and sponsors being forced to put the golf clubs away and skip the tournament this year, Welder tells Black Press Media he was happy with the fundraising efforts.
“Almost every one of our sponsors and golfers has asked us to keep their fees and their sponsorships to put together programs. So I think we will hit our target again this year because of the generosity of those people involved in the tournament and them wanting to give back, not only to the clubs, but I think to the Okanagan communities,” explained Welder.
Also included this year was an online 50/50 raffle and bonus jackpot, which reached $4,075 and $3,150, respectively. Half of these funds also went to supporting BGC Okanagan.
“It’s very important to us,” said Jason McKinlay, head golf professional at Harvest Golf Club. “Just to be able to make the best of the situation and still have the ball drop at the Harvest Golf Club meant a lot to us. This fundraiser goes to a really good cause with Golf 4 Kids.”
BGC Okanagan currently has 43 clubs across 16 communities.