Use the arrows to click through the five photos from the fundraiser event!
The iconic Muirfield Village Country Club was the setting for a three-day fundraising event hosted by Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II. The event was sponsored by the WorldServe International and Global Water Institute at The Ohio State University in support of programs to provide critical water infrastructure and mitigate water insecurity for the Navajo Nation.
The Navajo homelands extend across the Colorado Plateau in Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Utah. Although naturally arid, water problems there have been magnified by 20 years of an extended drought that has gripped the Colorado River Basin. Traditional agricultural practices in the region are in decline, as well as terrestrial ecosystems that depend on snow and rain.
Water problems are compounded by the deterioration of the historical water infrastructure and legacy problems of contamination from uranium mining. The Navajo have also been hard hit by COVID-19.
The Global Water Institute, under the leadership of Tom Darrah, School of Earth Sciences, has marshaled the support of World Serve International and Assist International, not-for-profit relief agencies, Netafim, a global leader in drip irrigation, and Suez Water Technologies and Solutions, a world leader in water technology, and other corporate donors. The goal of these efforts is simple – to bring clean drinking water and sustainable drip irrigation agriculture to the Navajo Nation. We’ll be back with further updates on progress in 2022!
The event at Muirfield kicked off Monday night with Jack and Jack Junior looking back, reflecting on life on tour and some of the challenges of raising a family in the midst of a hectic tour schedule. Attendees received an autographed copy of the new book Best Seat in the House by Jack II and Don Yaeger and an autographed picture with Jack.
Dinner was hosted in the Captain’s Grill. Representing the University were Executive Vice President and Provost, Dr. Melissa L. Gilliam, Executive Dean of Arts and Sciences College, Dr. David Horn, Dean of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Dr. Susan Olesik, and former Dean of the College of Engineering, Dr. David Williams. The School of Earth Sciences was well represented by Drs. Rachel Coyte (postdoctoral scholar), Tom Darah, John Olesik, and Frank Schwartz, and alumni Colin Whyte (PhD, 2019), Brent Lary (M.S., 2020), and Jake Harrington (BSc 2015).
The Petersen Family, an amazing talented touring bluegrass band, flew in from Arizona, to wow the crowd with renditions of the music of America.
Did we play golf? Yes…that began on Tuesday, early afternoon. For all involved, the experience of tramping much of the same ground as Jack, Tiger, Norman, Mickelson, Choi, and others was humbling. On our team, Brent (far left) and Jake (left) seemed ready to go. Tom, (far right) talking with some of the other guests, seemed too happy – perhaps knowing that Rachel, a former golf team member at Oberlin College was on his team.
The course was magnificent, especially the woods, water, roughs, and traps where we spent much of our time. As the heat began to take its toll, our alums Brent (top) and Colin worked hard to live up to the legend of Jack.
The event ended on Wednesday, as people headed for home. We were sad that COVID constraints prevented the Navajo leadership from attending. If they had been there, they would have realized the commitment of our university, the wonderful donors and donor companies, and the worldwide community of experts and tech companies supporting the efforts.
Thanks again to Jack and Jack II, and to those that worked behind the scenes to make everything happen. Funds raised by the event are already being put to work on the Navajo Nation.
Submitted by Frank Schwartz, School of Earth Sciences