Another banner day for Kids Golf Classic

The 29th annual Kids Golf Classic, which benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg, was held Monday at Parkersburg Country Club. The event generated a record-breaking $343,000 in proceeds which directly impact kids throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley that the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg serves each year. Pictured in the check presentation are, front row, front left: Lynn Reins (Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg); Rhoni Burt (CAS Cable); Richard Adams (United Bank); Tres Ross (The Ross Foundation); and Chad Mildren (United Bank). Middle row: Chase Minnite (The PM Company); Fred Earley (Highmark West Virginia); Jason Minnite, (The PM Company); Matt Cooke (Astorg Motor Company); Ben Thomas (Bowles Rice); Randy Rogers, (Murray Sheet Metal); John Padden (Reagle & Padden); Preston Herrin (Benchmark Technology Group); and Patrick Bryan (United Bank). Back row: John Fanta (Henry Logan Children’s Home); Tom Lally (Cintas); Charlie Taylor (UCCI); Chris Davis (Matheny Motor Truck Company); and Nick Squires (Tri-State Roofing). (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

VIENNA – Everything’s coming up roses for the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg.

From the celebration of 60 years as a facility earlier this year to the addition of two club sites in Mineral Wells and Athens County to the record-breaking check received from Monday’s 29th annual Kids Golf Classic.

Contributions from the event, which hit a grand total of $343,000, are on the brink of reaching $5 million since the event began in 1997.

“The golf classic – every year I am amazed and overwhelmed with the support of (Chief Consumer Banking Office at United Bank Chad Mildren) and the entire team and everything they do,” said Lynn Reins, who is the Chief Executive Officer for the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg. “(Executive Chairman of United Bankshares, Inc. Richard Adams) is right there making sure that it is a little bit better than it was the year before.

“What we receive today is about 20% of what we need to run the club for the entire year. In one fell swoop and one event, the community always shows up and shows out for the kids. I could not be more grateful.”

Lynn Reins, who is the Chief Executive Officer for the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg, monitors the putting contest during Monday’s 29th annual Kids Golf Classic at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Monday’s golfers played under more-than-ideal conditions with temperatures remaining in low 70s with little humidity. Reins chuckled when she ordered these exact conditions for the first week of June.

“Last year was our 60 years of serving kiddos and we opened two new clubhouses – opened a site at Mineral Wells at Elementary,” Reins said. “We have a set classroom that is the clubhouse. They have complete access to the gym and the playground. Also opened a site in Athens County in the village of Glouster, so we are serving about 25 kids a day out there as well.

“We saw this huge increase in the number of kids we serve. We service 169 kids per day in 2024 with all three sites. So far in 2025 we are seeing 190 kids a day at those three sites. It’s been crazy. We’ve increased staff. We now have nine full-time staff members, and increasing part-time staff with those who are working directly with our kiddos.”

Reins stated the main facility at the Mary Street location, and renovations are in the works for the campus outside the building. A new playground and basketball courts are part of the project.

“Our kids deserve it – they deserve a clubhouse to be proud of,” Reins said. “We want them to know we value them and their entire community values them, and what they are going to be to this community in the future – because they are the future to the community of Parkersburg.”

Katrina Stephens from United Bank, right, takes a group photo of golfers competing at Monday’s 29th annual Kids Golf Classic at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

On that note, Reins also wants the community to realize their facility is open to all social levels. There’s a stigma she wants to erase.

“There’s sometimes a stigma associated with Boys and Girls Club and what type of kids are club kids,” Reins said. “We have really worked hard the last few years to let our community know it doesn’t matter how many money your family makes, it doesn’t matter what your parent’s job titles are or what you look like.

“The club is for you and for every kid and I think we have really broke that barrier and people see the value in the club. It’s not just for kids who are struggling in the community. It’s for every kid.”

Monday marked Reins’ fifth Kids Golf Classic as representing the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg. In 4 ½ years on the job, her energy has created numerous opportunities. Whether it’s increasing the number of schools they transport youth from, which started at two when she arrived and now involves 20.

The club served 42 kids on average when she took the job. Currently the numbers are climbing toward 200.

Jacob Wade from Mineral Wells lines up a putt as part of the putting contest at Monday’s 29th annual Kids Golf Classic at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“It’s been this growth opportunity to serve more kids more often and that’s always our goal,” Reins said. “I’m a dreamer. Don’t know if it would happen this quick but I always knew I wanted to bring club to more kids.

Adams stated something special is in the works for next year’s event which will celebrate 30 years in their partnership and supporting local youth at the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg. The goal is to push career proceeds over the $5 million mark.

“When you talk about raising the bar year after year, it comes down to our people and the efforts they make,” Adams said. “All these people you see out there on the golf carts and the contacts they make raising money. And it’s the cause. The Boys and Girls Club does a great job and every year they continue to grow. We are just happy to be a part of that.

“We will have a special celebration for 30 years, that’s for sure.”

The support staff for Monday’s 29th annual Kids Golf Classic take a moment to pose for a group photo at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo Provided)

Marietta’s Jason Shuler, left, watches as Parkersburg’s Steve Matthews participates in the putting contest during Monday’s 29th annual Kids Golf Classic at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Dave Fleming, far right, attempts a putt from the edge of the green during Monday’s 29th annual Kids Golf Classic at Parkersburg Country Club. Watching in the background are Wyn Bowden, far left, and Kyle Bowles. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)