Lansing — A day filled with laughs, golf and money going toward several good causes highlighted the eighth annual Mid-Michigan Steve Smith Charity Challenge golf outing at the Country Club of Lansing on Monday.
Smith, a former MSU and NBA star, hosted the event to raise money for the Steve Smith Scholarship Fund.
Each year, the Steve Smith/Pershing High School/MSU Scholarship for Academic Achievement fund selects students who have come from Smith's former high school, Pershing High School in Detroit.
The scholarship allows students to attend MSU without the concern of financing their education. It also encourages students to succeed in the classroom, providing them with motivation to achieve their individual goals.
Smith said other charities in the area benefit from his golf outings as well.
"Along with the Scholarship Fund, a lot of other charities in Mid-Michigan get a profit from these outings, such as the Boys & Girls Club, the St. Vincent Home (for Children), and Ele's Place," Smith said. "So many people get a chance to benefit."
The scholarship provides $10,000 per student per academic year. Smith says on his Web site, www.sssfund.com, he would like to bring even more students from Pershing High School to MSU in the future.
Smith estimated about 160 people attended the golf outing, with four golfers per team playing in a scramble format.
"We get about a 90 percent return rate every year - it's unbelievable," Smith said. "Without those guys none of this would be possible."
Smith said he is always excited to come back to the Mid-Michigan area to play in golf outings and catch up with acquaintances.
"It's great to come back and see old friends and see people that are part of the MSU family. It's a chance to talk about the old times and the good times," he said.
Two of Smith's teammates were members of the MSU women's golf team - sophomore Laura Kueny, as well as 2007 graduate and Big Ten Individual Champion Rachel Meikle.
"I recruited real well," joked Smith about his team.
Smith has contributed in many ways to MSU, both on the basketball court and by helping improve the campus itself.
The most notable donation made by Smith to the university was in 1997 when Smith funded the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center. The construction of the center cost $2.5 million.
Despite bouncing around in recent years between NBA teams seeking his services, Smith said he still stays in touch with MSU athletics, including the basketball team.
"I live and die with MSU basketball," Smith said. "I always try to get back to work out with those guys."
