7th annual George Taliaferro golf open raises money for children in need of organ transplants

The Children's Organ Transplant Center got a major boost financially as the 7th annual George Taliaferro Open was held Monday at Eagle Pointe Country Club.\nTaliaferro, who is a former legendary IU football and professor, will receive the rarely awarded Distinguished Alumni Award this Saturday. \nIn terms of the tournament itself, Taliaferro said he was humbled by the tournament being named after him but said he was not the reason it took place.\n"It is an incredible idea to have this open," Taliaferro said. "However (this tournament) was not my idea so I don't deserve the credit." \nThe Open was organized by COTA President Rick Lofgren, who said it was a wonderful experience to be part of such a charitable cause.\n"It is a great event," Lofgren said. "We should have about 120 golfers and raise 70,000 dollars for kids who need organ transplants."\nThe main event was golf on the Eagle Pointe course, and participants donned shirts specially provided for the event. The event also included a raffle and a boxed lunch for the golfers who were guests of the sponsors. \nThe primary sponsor of the event was Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional. CFCI President David Hays was one of the golfers at the event.\n"It's an honor to be part of this event because COTA's mission allows children to receive organs regardless of their financial situation," Hays said. "Any day playing golf is good, but I am not an avid golfer so this is great to play today." \nIn terms of being a sponsor, Hays said he did not want people making a big deal of it.\n"It is a humbling experience," he said. "People make a big deal (out of me being a sponsor), but it is a minor thing really."\nOther secondary sponsors for the event were David and Bonnie Hilliard, Cook Group Incorporated, Hirons and Company and Chrysler Town and Country Dealers. \nThe event has raised $420,000 in its seven years of existence and will continue again next year.\nTaliaferro also said despite not having a major role in the event he still felt connected to the cause.\n"The whole idea of giving back to the community is why it is so great to be associated with this event; even though my family has fortunately never needed a transplant," he said.