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9 local contracting, engineering, and architectural firms are teaming up to build a 9-hole miniature golf course on the ground floor of the Rivers Condominiums. The 2-day Charity Hole-In-One Challenge will take place first as a closed VIP event for YoungPros on Friday March 19 but will be open to the public for 8 hours on Saturday March 20 from 10am - 6pm. The event is sponsored by Integrity First Financial with the ongoing support of YoungPros Presenting Sponsors Willamette University MBA and Ticor Title.

"We think the community is going to eat this thing up," said AJ Nash of Willamette Valley Bank. Nash serves on the Salem Area Young Professionals Leadership Team and is the volunteer coordinator of the special event. "Not only is it a one of a kind event, it's also an easy way for the public and Young Professionals to show their support for the kids in our High Schools."

The charity event will raise money the Salem Chamber's Leadership Youth program and the Salem Area Young Professionals program. Every year, the Leadership Youth program works with approximately 65 students from Salem-Keizer's 6 High Schools. The program helps students recognize their leadership potential and provides opportunities for them to serve in positive leadership roles within their schools and their community. Currently, Leadership Youth students are serving on the Board of Directors for highly visible organizations including Keizer City Council, Salem Electric, Salem Leadership Foundation, and the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce to name a few.

9 teams will compete on Friday, March 19 in the afternoon to build the most attractive and functional miniature golf holes possible with the building materials provided. Each team building a miniature golf hole will be given identical building materials. Golfers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite miniature golf hole and prizes will be awarded to those who win the Hole-In-One Challenge on both Friday and Saturday.

"Businesspeople continue to show their support and passion for youth in our schools," said Jason Brandt, Director of Public Affairs for the Salem Chamber and support staff for Young Professionals. "Programs like Leadership Youth and innovative events like this miniature golf build are opportunities for the whole community to show support for these kids."

Online registration is available for the YoungPros group to attend the event at salemyoungpros.com. Cost for the Friday night event is $10 per YoungPro and will include drinks and food. Cost to play 9 holes of golf for the public on Saturday, March 20 will be $5 per 9 holes with hot dogs and soda available for a low cost on site. 100% of the proceeds will go to support the Leadership Youth and Salem Area Young Professionals programs.

A special thanks to the Rivers Condiminiums across from Riverfront Park (156 Front St, Downtown Salem) for providing the venue, Harold's Quality Auto Repair for serving hot dogs and soda, Best Little Roadhouse for providing putters, and Lowe's at Keizer Station for providing building materials.