Driving Change for Kids’ Mental Health

The CASA Golf Classic had a humble, grassroots beginning.

What started as a friendly initiative among a close-knit group of friends back in 2015 quickly evolved into something much more meaningful. With a shared desire to make a lasting impact, Harry Sunner, Azad Sadeghi and Arash Vahdaty invited their network to join them for a day of golf and connection at one of Edmonton’s premier private golf courses, Blackhawk Golf Club.

At the time, Arash was the CASA Foundation board chair and Harry was a CASA Foundation board member. Azad was Harry’s neighbour. The group united around a common purpose: supporting the vital cause of children’s mental health.

The tournament wasn’t without its challenges. They got snowed out the first year and had to postpone the tournament. At the rescheduled tournament, it poured rain. COVID-19 also brought challenges, but they didn’t let any of that stop them. As Harry puts it, you need a ‘no-quit attitude’ and that’s exactly what they had.

“There was a lot of learning on the job, but, you know, we slowly worked out the mistakes – what works, what doesn’t work,” says Azad. They expressed their gratitude to have worked alongside CASA’s Director of Philanthropy, Nadine Samycia, with her calm and positive demeanour, since day one.

Their motivation was always clear and heartfelt: to make a positive impact while creating an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. “There was always this inspiration to support kids. They’re the most innocent when it comes to illness or challenges that affect their lives,” reflects Harry. CASA Mental Health was a natural fit, given his and Arash’s involvement on the board and their participation in other CASA events like the CASA Carnival.

“We’ve treated it, from day one, like someone coming to a family get-together because we want everyone to have a great experience,” adds Harry. And that focus on the experience likely keeps golfers and partners coming back year after year.

Many of those friends who supported the tournament in its first year were key to its long-term success – becoming partners, committee members and some are still involved to this day.

Ten years later, and the tournament has raised a total of over $1.5 million for free, life-changing child, youth and family mental health services in Alberta.

The tournament has become a signature event at CASA, meaning more of the event coordination is done internally, though Harry and Azad still play a big role on the planning committee. The committee sees the tournament as a legacy – one that will continue well into the future, driven by partners who are passionate about advocating for a cause greater than themselves.

“It’s been very rewarding,” says Azad. “It generally makes you feel good, very proud every time the tournament is over. It’s good to know you’ve done something good. And I hope our little tournament has helped people learn what CASA is, what CASA does.”

Harry adds, “CASA’s growth and change and awareness has been parallel with the tournament. They’ve both come a long way, absolutely.

“The success of the CASA Golf Classic would not be possible without the remarkable generosity of our event partners. We are deeply grateful to our long-standing supporters who have championed this initiative year after year, as well as to our incredible new partners who have placed their trust in our purpose.

“Their commitment to advocating for children’s mental health has been instrumental in shaping this tournament into what it is today. As we look ahead, we can only hope for the event to grow exponentially continuing to inspire and make a lasting impact for years to come.”

Thank you to everyone who played a significant role in the success of the CASA Golf Classic – this tournament wouldn’t be what it is today without your support and commitment: