(Joplin, MO) – Records, they say, are meant to be broken, and that certainly was the case during Monday’s Tournament of Miracles golf scramble.
Support continues to grow for local kids and families through Children’s Miracle Network at Freeman Health System. This year’s event brought in a record-setting $110,485, the highest total in its 34-year history, surpassing last year’s 108,677 milestone, and the previous record of $86,000 set in 2024.
“As someone who has the privilege of seeing firsthand the impact these funds have on local children and families, I am overwhelmed with gratitude,” said Brandy Miller-Turner, Children’s Miracle Network Director. “Raising a record [amount] is an incredible accomplishment, but what means the most is knowing that every dollar raised will stay right here in our community to help kids receive the care they need. This achievement belongs to every sponsor, golfer, volunteer, committee member, and donor who believes in our mission.”
Between morning and afternoon flights, 200-plus golfers comprising 50 teams competed at Twin Hills Golf & Country Club. Miller-Turner called the turnout a powerful example of the Four States community coming together to show support by raising money for a very worthy cause.
“This is something we couldn’t do without community support,” Miller-Turner said. “We simply couldn’t do what we do here without all these people supporting us. The fact that people traveled from across the Midwest and beyond to support this event speaks to the incredible generosity of those who believe every child deserves access to exceptional healthcare, regardless of their family’s circumstances.”
Throughout the day, 2026 CMN Champion Zakiyah Crow and 2024 CMN Ambassador Vincent Wilkowski were driven in golf carts, bringing smiles to the faces of those competing on the fairways and tee boxes. Autographs were signed and hugs were exchanged.
“[Zakiyah and Vincent] shared their stories with the players and showed them the impact they’re directly having on our CMN families,” Miller-Turner said. “At the end of the day, they get to see just how much they are supporting Children’s Miracle Network. Having the kiddos here, getting on the golf cart and telling their stories, just makes everyone happy.”
Freeman Health System officials, including Freeman Market President of Missouri & Kansas Renee Denton, Ozark Center Chief Executive Officer Vicky Mieseler, and new Freeman Market Chief Operating Officer Michael Herr, spent the day interacting with the golfing teams, thanking them for their support.
Every cent of every dollar raised from Monday’s charitable event goes directly back to the families and youngsters, aged birth to 21, living in Freeman CMN’s 14-county service area in Southwest Missouri, Southeast Kansas, and Northeast Oklahoma.
“We are helping to purchase wheelchairs, walkers, nutritional supplements, we help with $8,500 cubby beds, and thousands of dollars every year in travel assistance,” Miller-Turner said. “We are need based, not income based, so we’re never going to ask you about your income. We just want to be able to help remove any financial barriers between you and getting the care you need for your child.”
“Together,” she continued, “we are changing lives.”
Here are the results from the 2026 Tournament of Miracles golf scramble:
Morning Flight
- 1st Place: Healthcare Linen Services Group (Players: Lana Moeller, Chelsey Bates, Jacob Welter, Bryan Slinkard)
- 2nd Place: People’s Bank of Seneca (Players: Deron Burr, Ira Fernandez, John Klute, JE Cruse)
- 3rd Place: Bank of America/Gilmore & Bell (Players: Tyson Markham, Bill Burns, Alan Woolever, Michael Sanders)
- Closest to Pin: Brandon Mussbaum (MedTronic)
- Longest Drive: Connor Niemeyer (Crossland Construction Company)
- Longest Putt: Jason Hogan (Crossland Construction Company)
Afternoon Flight
- 1st Place: Simmons Bank (Players: Andy Franklin, Anthony Fink, Christian Lewis, Adam Thompson)
- 2nd Place: Landmark Hospital of Joplin (Players: Robert Sample, Toby Vance, Alex Samples, Noah Kern)
- 3rd Place: CrossVue (Player: Ryan Koch)
- Closest to Pin: Noah Kern (Landmark Hospital)
- Longest Drive: Alex Samples (Landmark Hospital)
- Longest Putt: Anthony Fink (Simmons Bank)
50/50 Winner
- David Edgerton
About Children’s Miracle Network
Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at Freeman Health System raises funds for local children and families, receiving assistance for those with medical needs, such as prescriptions, medical equipment, and specialty care. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Freeman Health System offers several different assistance programs to support local children. Through Direct Family Assistance, families can obtain specialty equipment, travel assistance and other medically necessary items. The Miracle Service Dog program awards two specially trained service dogs to meet the needs of the child and family. Every child that comes to Freeman Health System for care receives a comfort pack from the Higgins Heroes. These packs make staying in the hospital a little easier.
About Freeman Health System
Locally owned and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System is a not-for-profit health system serving communities across Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas through a network of hospitals, physician clinics, outpatient locations, and specialty services. The system includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital, and the Freeman Health System facilities in Bentonville, Springdale, Willow Creek, and Siloam Springs. Freeman Health System also operates Ozark Center – the region’s largest provider of behavioral health services, and offers comprehensive cancer, cardiology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, and women’s and children’s services. The system is supported by more than 7,000 employees and is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
Reference:
Kevin McClintock, Media Relations Coordinator
Freeman Health System
417.434.3458
KSMcclintock@freemanhealth.com
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