Scott Jarmon threw the idea out there during a Coralville United Methodist Church brainstorming session about how to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.

Really, he figured, it probably wouldn't go much further than the discussion stage.

"I jokingly said, 'Maybe we could have a golf tournament,'" Jarmon said. "I wasn't really thinking we could raise a lot of money."

Turns out he was wrong.

The tournament that started with his idea has developed into quite a fundraiser. Scott and his wife, Lori, organized the tournament during its first two years.

With the help of sponsors, it raised more than $25,000 the first year and topped that mark again last year.

Not bad for a group that started with a $1,200 budget for missions. The proceeds enabled church members to build a Habitat home in Coralville.

"We had a lot of participation from our whole church," Scott said. "I think out of the 300 people that regularly attend that church as active members, I'd be willing to say close to half or two-thirds participated at one point or another in some way."

Lori's passion for the cause stems from her experience with the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity committee. That, along with Scott's carpentry skills, got the couple involved in the project for the Methodist church. Though they have relinquished some of their

responsibilities with the annual golf tournament, they plan to continue working on Habitat for Humanity missions.

"It was very rewarding," Scott said. "I don't feel like we did anything great. We just put a lot of effort into something that needed to be done."

- Andy Hamilton