Each year, the Mike Ballard Memorial Fundraiser is hosted in Carbon County to raise funds for a local family in need. The 10th annual golf tournament was hosted on June 1 this year at the Carbon Country Club golf course with many in attendance. The festivities continued that evening at the Carbon County Event Center with a concert and dinner to raise additional funds. On Wednesday evening, Carbon County Human Resources Director Rose Barnes was joined by Linda Ballard to present the funds raised to the Nelson family.
Janell Nelson, who also serves on the committee for the fundraiser, was joined by her family to accept the check. Nelson and the rest of her family lost her husband, JR, in January in an automobile accident. Commissioner Tony Martines remarked that he worked with JR for some time and he was a great individual. He stated that, while he is sorry for the family’s loss, he hopes that the funds will help.
A total of $36,214.01 was raised during the fundraiser and, after expenses, a total of $28,885.21 was presented to the Nelson family.
The committee members for the fundraiser are Linda Ballard, Frank Ori (last year’s recipient), Carbon County Commissioner Casey Hopes, Carbon County Sheriff Jeff Wood, Emily Wood, Ann Anderson, Tom King, Nelson, Valerie Lupo, Robyn Nelson, Misty Birch, Jerry Nelson, Haley Atwood and Bill Barnes.
