Events
2026 Schedule
The First Annual 18 FORE Life Gala
RESCHEDULED: Saturday, February 7
The Meadows Event Center
Celebrate the First Annual 18 FORE LIFE GALA
The 18 FORE Life Gala, a Night of Giving Back, is presented by the Meadows Event Center.
- 100% of ticket proceeds go to 18 FORE Life
- Drinks • Dinner • Dancing • and More!
- Catering by Karen Campbell with Tasteful Creations
- Doors open at 4:30 • Dinner at 6:00
- Tickets must be purchased before the event
- Email reminder will be sent the day of the event and serve as your ticket
The Ben Kruse 18 FORE Life
Charity Golf Event Weekend
June 5 – 6
Friday, June 5
Charity Golf Event Banquet
The Elks, Dexter, MO
Featuring Keynote Speaker:
Love Offering Speaker:
Toast to Ben:
Banquet Sponsor:
Doors Open: 4:30 pm
Dinner: 6:00 pm
Saturday, June 6
4 Person Scramble
Hidden Trails CC, Dexter, MO
Tee Times:
7:00 AM
1:00 PM
About the Ben Kruse 18 FORE Life Charity Golf Event:
The Ben Kruse 18 FORE Life Charity Golf Event is our staple event and the reason this charity organization was founded. In the fall of 2000, four friends stood around a kitchen late one night-early one morning and discussed the thought of organizing a golf tournament. They acted on the idea and in 2001, the first 18 FORE Life golf tournament took place on June 23rd! The goal of the charity, at the time, was to raise money for The V-Foundation. The group of volunteers quickly stumbled onto the idea of sending love offerings to area families fighting cancer. The immediate response from letters and thank you cards were impactful and proved something special was possible.
In 2004, founder Ben Kruse was taken from us in a tragic accident. This young man’s spirit and soul inspired an entire community to rally together to not only raise money for a charity but also celebrate a life.
The golf weekend is a party full of hugs, handshakes, laughter, smiles, and memories shared. Our tag line is Celebrate | Give | Remember and we are proud to say all of this is accomplished in a big way every first weekend in June as 500 banquet attendees and 386 golfers gather for a guaranteed great time.
Rainout Policy: Refunds will be given if you choose to not accept our gift bag. If a golfer or golfers choose, they may keep their gift bag in exchange for their entry fee. If any of the rounds are played, no refunds will be granted.
16th Annual Ben Kruse Charity Crappie Tournament
More information coming soon.
The second biggest fundraising event that we host each year is The Ben Kruse Charity Crappie Tournament on Wappapello Lake. In our first year in 2011, we had over 40 boats of two-person teams participating and raised over $7,500.
