E.F. ‘Pat’ Houser Golf Tournament Raises $62K for Skills of Central PA

The 21st Annual E.F. “Pat” Houser Golf Tournament, hosted by Skills of Central PA and the Skills Foundation, raised more than $62,000 on Aug. 24 at Toftrees Resort.

Seventy-six golfers took part in the event, which supports programs and services for people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health challenges throughout a 17-county region of Central Pennsylvania.

Proceeds from the tournament go to the Skills Foundation, which helps Skills of Central PA purchase specialized and adaptive equipment, launch new programs, provide assistive technology, and meet emergency and other needs identified by staff who work directly with the people Skills supports.

“This tournament is more than a day on the course—it’s a chance for our community to come together and invest in opportunities that change lives,” said Val Barner, President and CEO of Skills of Central PA. “The generosity of this year’s golfers and sponsors produced one of the strongest results in the event’s history. We are deeply grateful to everyone who made it possible.”

The tournament is named in memory of E.F. “Pat” Houser (1922–1987), a Bellefonte businessman in the vending and real estate industries and a founding member of the Skills Board of Directors. Houser was active in local charities and civic organizations. The annual event continues his legacy of community investment.

Skills of Central PA expressed thanks to all of the tournament’s sponsors, with a special recognition to event sponsors Brown & Brown and Mainline Pharmacy.

“Their leadership support, together with the commitment of every sponsor, golfer, volunteer, and partner, made the 21st annual tournament a success,” the organization wrote in a news release