By: Davies Hood, Induron Protective Coatings President
I recently had the privilege of participating in one of the Caldwell Preload Spirit Foundation’s 2024 fundraising events—a Golf Scramble in Louisville, KY. Now, for those of you who know me well, you’ll know golf isn’t exactly my strong suit. It’s been over five years since I played, aside from the occasional Top Golf outing, where I’m admittedly more focused on the chicken wings and camaraderie than my swing! So, signing up for a full day of golf? Let’s just say I was a little intimidated.
The purpose of this event, however, made stepping out of my comfort zone more than worth it. The Caldwell Preload Spirit Foundation is a philanthropic organization created by a longtime leader in the water industry and a valued partner of Induron Coatings. Founded on the principles of servant leadership, this organization is driven by volunteers who carefully select nonprofit beneficiaries, coordinate all fundraising efforts, and handle every aspect of each event. Their mission is simple yet powerful: to support teammates in their times of need, enhance communities through volunteerism, and champion charities aligned with their SPIRIT values—all while fostering a culture of compassion and unity. Being a part of something like this was both humbling and inspiring, and I couldn’t be prouder to support such an organization.
As the day unfolded, I fortunately found myself part of a foursome that included Joey Thomas from Induron, Rory Sudbeck, co-owner of a fast-growing water tank painting company, and Ryan Harvey, CEO of Caldwell Preload Tanks. Now, if you ask these guys, they might say they had the *misfortune* of drawing me as their fourth, but they were gracious nonetheless. We were in good company, too, with over 100 golfers registered—a full course on a hot and sticky “Indian Summer” day. And just when we thought it couldn’t get more interesting, nine holes at Quail Chase Golf Course closed for maintenance, forcing us to adjust our course (pun intended!). Despite the challenge, we turned lemons into lemonade, thanks in part to a few well-timed visits from the beverage cart and hot dogs at the turn!
Our foursome’s score? Well, let’s just say it wasn’t a leaderboard contender. But that didn’t matter because we spent six and a half hours building camaraderie, enjoying the outdoors, and contributing to a worthy cause. The day was a huge success, raising almost twice as much as last year for 23 nonprofit organizations that work tirelessly to make a difference.
I left the event with a few things: closer friendships, a renewed determination to improve my golf game,, and most importantly, a sense of gratitude for the impact we helped make. Knowing that our day on the course translated into tangible support for organizations aligned with the Caldwell Preload Spirit Foundation’s values is deeply meaningful.
To learn more about the Caldwell Preload Spirit Foundation and its mission of compassion, community, and volunteerism, I encourage you to visit their website. I’m already looking forward to next year’s scramble—and who knows, maybe I’ll have a few more birdies by then!