Our History

In late 1999, a few people got together and thought up the idea of a benefit golf tournament. We wanted to do something good, something simple, and something to genuinely help people in need. The V-Foundation seemed like the perfect charity to donate to. Named after the legendary Coach Jim Valvano, the organization has its own team of doctors who do nothing but research a cure for cancer of all kinds. They send out the spreadsheet and make their accounting records public knowledge; proof that this is a responsible organization founded and run by quality people. The V-Foundation has an inspiring motto that fits the spirit of 18 FORE Life as well; “Don’t Ever Give Up!”

In our “rookie” year, we intended to send all of the money we raised to the V-Foundation. After playing in the golf tournament, a local sponsor asked if we kept any money local. That great question sparked a terrific idea and turned 18 FORE Life into something more than just a simple fundraiser for the V-Foundation. From that day forward, we would still support the V-Foundation, but we would keep the majority of our earnings and give them away locally to families battling cancer in the form of what we call “love offerings”. Helping these people with the expenses that go along with fighting cancer would be the inspiration to grow our charity each year and find ways to become bigger and more legitimate.

18 FORE Life

The name, in our minds, describes something simple, good, and fun. We get a large number of people together and play 18 holes of golf while celebrating life. If we had a mission statement, it would go something like this: 18 FORE Life will get as many people together as possible to play golf and celebrate the gift of life by helping others in need, raising as much money as possible. Jake Barge, Kip Musgrave, my brother, Ben, and I came up with the name and settled on it immediately. Our charity will always be called 18 FORE Life, but now we will always be much more than a golf tournament. In 2005, we began hosting a weekend of good times and great FUNdraising. The festivities are called The Ben Kruse 18 FORE Life Charity Golf Event.

To this day, we have sent over $16,000 to the V-Foundation and given away nearly over $250,000 to families all over southeast Missouri. 2005 also marked the first year we sent money to Coaches vs Cancer. Our bowling event, 10 Pins For Ben, has raised over $20,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in only three years. We are sure that this is only the beginning of the good things that we are going to accomplish through 18 FORE Life.