The Vlasic Traditional golf tour is rising right into a uniquely highly effective networking occasion. Based by hashish entrepreneur Willy Vlasic, the annual nationwide charity golf event is a motion constructed on function, neighborhood and philanthropy, all whereas spending a day on the inexperienced—actually and figuratively.
Now in its third 12 months, Vlasic Traditional helps organizations just like the Final Prisoner Venture and Freedom Develop to safe the liberty of these unjustly incarcerated for non-violent hashish offenses. The tour made stops in each Michigan and Missouri, bringing collectively business leaders for a weekend of golf, connection and charity.
The Michigan Traditional
The primary cease was the Cardinal Golf Course at St. John’s Resort in Plymouth, Michigan, on June 28. The venue was a deliberate selection, because the resort itself is a nonprofit, with all funds supporting native and worldwide humanitarian efforts.
As one participant famous, it’s uncommon for hashish manufacturers to get to play on such an impeccable course, and the chance was not misplaced on the attendees. The situation additionally holds a key connection to the broader golf world, because the course is a bunch for the LIV Golf Workforce Championship, making it a robust landmark in each the sports activities and hashish areas.
The environment was a novel mix of professionalism and private contact. The whole occasion was a household affair, produced with the intimate, hands-on involvement of Willy Vlasic and his workforce. Willy’s father and nephew even got here out to welcome gamers earlier than the primary tee-off. This private contact prolonged to each element, from the laid-back, pleasant environment to the beneficiant and thoughtfully curated reward luggage.
Past the course, the occasion included a vigorous welcome celebration sponsored by Kushy Punch and a culminating after-party at Willy’s residence, full with a reside rosin-press demo by Entry Rosin, pizza and a DJ. It was an ideal mixture of an expert, large-scale occasion with a private, communal really feel.
Activations at each gap—from a longest-putt contest with a weed stalk putter to a $10,000 hole-in-one problem—stored the power excessive, all whereas driving donations to the hashish prisoners’ trigger.
The mix of native Michigan manufacturers, corresponding to {hardware} firm Vapin’ Ape, and nationwide corporations like Sweed, an e-commerce platform for dispensaries, additionally facilitated priceless interstate networking alternatives.
“Willy and his workforce placed on an unbelievable occasion,” says Kellen O’Keefe, president of Sweed. “What’s actually nice is that we’re coping with the decision-makers. We’re going straight to the certified purchasers and the those that we’re trying to sit down with. To have the ability to play golf with them for 4 hours and speak about our product is a tremendous alternative.
Brandy, an account government for Northern Michigan at Kushy Punch, echoed the sentiment. “That is my second Vlasic occasion, and business-wise, right now went rather well,” she mentioned. “There’s a whole lot of actually good prospects and potentials obtainable, particularly for Kushy Punch, simply having the ability to form of re-establish themselves.”
Alex Sturton, proprietor of Vapin’ Ape, highlighted the shared values, saying, “We actually just like the intersection of sports activities and hashish of the Vlasic Traditional. There are lots of people who prefer to smoke and go and take part in one thing aggressive.”
The Missouri Traditional
The Third Annual Missouri Vlasic Traditional continued the mission August 22-24 with a weekend of golf, enjoyable and philanthropy at Previous Kinderhook. The occasion was a testomony to the neighborhood’s assist, with 124 golfers and 37 sponsors, representing over $1 billion in annual income from throughout the Missouri hashish business and past.
The event’s playful power, that includes rocket ball launchers, drone drops and a “Beat the Professional” gap, was balanced by its critical philanthropic objectives. The occasion efficiently raised over $16,000, with $10,000 going to Freedom Develop, $5,000 to the Final Prisoner Venture, and $1,300 to Deshaun Durham to assist him begin his pre-law diploma. The weekend culminated with an enormous raffle, together with a 3-day golf journey to Kiawah Island.
A Champion’s Perspective: An Interview With Ricky Williams
Among the many sponsors in Missouri was Highsman, the hashish model based by NFL legend and Heisman and NFL MVP winner, Ricky Williams, one of many pioneers of the evolving relationship between skilled sports activities and hashish advocacy.
Williams sees his partnership with Vlasic Traditional as greater than only a enterprise transfer; it’s an extension of his life’s work. “I’ve by no means seen hashish as only a model play; it’s at all times been about therapeutic and making issues proper after a long time of prohibition,” he says.
For Williams, Highsman’s assist for the Final Prisoner Venture and Freedom Develop isn’t charity, however “justice in motion.” He believes within the energy of an occasion like this to create actual fairness within the business, and it’s a mission that resonates deeply with him.
The vibe on the course was an ideal illustration of Williams’s model ethos, “Spark Greatness.” He says that the environment was one in every of “pure competitors, however with a whole lot of laughs and good power.” He believes that is the “candy spot” the place having enjoyable and pushing your self will be carried out for a bigger function. “As an athlete, I do know connection comes from enjoying collectively, and when that very same spirit fuels philanthropy, the influence is actual,” he says.
When discussing the influence of the Vlasic Traditional, Ricky Williams emphasizes that “influence is what issues.” He finds it deeply significant to see tangible outcomes from the occasion’s fundraising efforts. “Once I see actual {dollars} going to free folks and assist fairness on this business, that’s when advocacy earns respect,” he says. “It’s highly effective to look at change really occur. That’s what retains me grounded within the work.”
Williams believes that the cross-state unity on show on the Vlasic Traditional is “completely important” for the way forward for the business. “It’s how we create scalable change, shift public notion, and degree the enjoying area,” he says. “When business gamers be part of forces throughout borders, we’re not simply rising income—we’re rewriting the foundations for fairness, entry and innovation.”
For a person who has always challenged norms, from his soccer profession to his private life, being an advocate within the hashish area is a pure match. “I’m not right here simply to place my title on issues, I’m right here to disrupt, to empower and to be actual,” Williams says. “It’s about paving a brand new path so the following technology doesn’t should struggle the identical battles.”
The Energy of the Inexperienced
The Vlasic Traditional is about a lot greater than a golf event. As Willy Vlasic said, their mission will proceed “till everyone seems to be launched from jail for non-violent hashish offenses.” It’s a daring promise that’s being backed up by actual motion, one swing, one sponsor and one freed prisoner at a time.
The occasion is a celebration of the ability of the hashish neighborhood, displaying that when the business comes collectively for a function, it could possibly make a tangible distinction that resonates far past the inexperienced.
The following spherical of the Vlasic Traditional gold event tees off once more on November 8 at Vegas Vlasic Traditional with Nuwu. Count on a day full of golf, good causes and a complete lot of inexperienced on the The Wolf Course at Paiute Resort.
