MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - In 1988, the inaugural Gateway Foundation Golf Classic netted nearly $18,000 to benefit City Hospital. The proceeds were used to establish a cardiac rehab program at the hospital. 
Twenty four years and $1.2 million later, the Golf Classic continues to be the area’s premier golf event fundraiser even with a few changes that have occurred over the past several years.
In 2009, the tournament was renamed the Bernie Hutzler Memorial Golf Classic to pay tribute to the memory of one of its founders and longtime supporters, Dr. Bernie Hutzler. Last year, the Jefferson Health Care Foundation and City Hospital Foundation tournaments were merged into one WVU Hospitals-East golf fund raiser to benefit both City Hospital and Jefferson Memorial Hospital. By unanimous decision, the tournament name will remain the Bernie Hutzler Memorial Golf Classic.
“As a charter member of the WVUH-East Board of Directors and avid supporter of the merger in 2005 to create our WVU Hospitals-East health system, Bernie loved playing in both golf tournaments,” said Teresa McCabe, vice president of marketing and development for WVUH-East. “We could think of no better tribute than to name the health system golf tournament in his memory,” she added.
The 25th anniversary golf classic, sponsored by the City Hospital Foundation and Jefferson Health Care Foundation, will be held on Monday, June 4 at The Woods Resort. Under the leadership of Co-Chairs Montie Hicks and Chris Colbert, the tournament committee hopes to raise $50,000 to benefit the WVUH-East hospitals.
Hicks explains the success of both golf tournaments over the years by stating, “The backbone of both tournaments has always been the tremendous support that the community has shown.” One reason for this overwhelming support is that the proceeds from the golf tournaments have been used to purchase patient care equipment as well as to fund new programs and services at City Hospital and Jefferson Memorial Hospital.
“We all work on committees to organize different golf tournaments, but this golf event truly benefits the health and wellbeing of us all,” Colbert added.
Sponsorships and golfer registration for the 25th Anniversary Bernie Hutzler Memorial Golf Classic is now open. Space is limited to the first 144 golfers. For more information call the WVUH-East marketing and foundation office at 304.264.1223.