The Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center had a cornhole tournament on Saturday, June 6, which was its first attempt at hosting an event featuring the lawn sport. Only five teams signed up to participate and although there were also people at the event to peruse the food trucks, the bean bag throwers were a good example of why people attend community happenings like the one Saturday.

Several of the throwers said they attended the event to support the community health center itself, not really for the chance to compete against other teams in cornhole. Registration for the tournament was $15 per person, a small sum to pay to help the health center continue to provide free services to people who otherwise may not be able to afford treatment.

The people participating knew about the mission of the center, with some of them even knowing the founder of the center herself. Several players commented on their lack of skill at the game, further acknowledging the event was more about the mission, not the game.

The Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center’s other major fundraiser is also its signature event — Signature Sensations, which takes place each November at the Butler Country Club. That event provides people with dinner and entertainment, as well as the chance to win door prizes and basket raffles. It’s more expensive than the cornhole tournament, but it normally sells out.

The people who attended the food truck and cornhole event Saturday showed even small-scale entertainment events are worthwhile for nonprofits to host, even when there is a larger fundraiser on the horizon. If the mission is important enough, people will show up regardless of size.

— ET