Gather 4 Him Christian College plans golf ball drop fundraiser April 23 in Kennewick

Ever seen hundreds of golf balls drop at once from the sky?

You’ll get the chance April 23 in Kennewick.

A massive golf ball drop is planned at Columbia Park Golf Links as part of Gather 4 Him Christian College’s annual spring fundraiser.

A good chunk of the proceeds — 30 percent — will go to the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation. The group seeks to build a memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to “honor our fallen warriors, U.S. service members, their families, and all those who supported our nation’s longest war.”

The golf ball drop will start at 4 p.m., after the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner by Michelle Jarrett of the band Michelle Jarrett and Prevail.

Golf balls cost $10 each, or $27 for three, $40 for five, $80 for 10 and $175 for 25. They’re available in advance through tinyurl.com/gather4him or on site the day of the event.

The golf balls will be dropped from a helicopter, with the one landing closest to the pin winning its owner $1,000. Other prizes also are planned.

Festivities then will move to Gather 4 Him’s new campus at 3021 W. Clearwater Ave., where a ribbon cutting, tours, food trucks and a worship concert by Michelle Jarrett and Prevail are planned. Remodeling is nearly finished on the new facility, which is set to open within a couple of months.

The college’s classes currently meet in Richland.

Gather 4 Him offers a two-year associate of arts degree in Biblical Studies. Enrollment has been growing, and the college expects to welcome 40 to 50 students in the fall, said Bob Nash, president.

The college recently gained approval to accept veterans educational benefits, and it seemed fitting to help the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation through the April 23 event, Nash said.

“We are excited and honored to be a part of such a great cause and to support our student veterans,” Nash said in a statement. “It is important for us to honor those who serve our country and this memorial will have a significant impact on our ability to do so for those who have served in the Global War on Terror.”

For more information on Gather 4 Him, go to college.gather4him.net.

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 6:01 PM with the headline "Gather 4 Him Christian College plans golf ball drop fundraiser April 23 in Kennewick."