Cinco De Mayo History
Now Celebrating over 50 Years of Service to the Community! This all began with casual conversation the Casa Canales Restaurant, a prominent dining and watering hole on Maroa Avenue, in central Fresno. It was 1963 and a group of “regulars” decided to do something good for Fresno.
"Let’s have a golf tournament!", they thought. It would be fun and we could raise money for charities in need in the Fresno area. They decided to hold it on May the 5th to coincide with Cinco De Mayo holiday. So it became the Cinco De Mayo Golf Tournament.
Emilio Canales, the proprietor, became the chairman. I am aware of only one other person present at that original discussion - Bob Sellers. He is probably the only original member still living.
In the early years, local charities that benefited from this humble organization included the Arthritis Foundation. $1,500 was raised with the hope of raising $2,000 the following year. Several NFL players came out to play, Len Rhode, Cas Banazak, Randy Beisler, Daryle Lamonica, Marv Hubbard & Jim Otto. The photos of these guys depict the styles of yesterday, thankfully gone, and golf courses you would not recognize today.
Other charities include St Agnes Hospital, Valley Children’s Hospital, and the American Cancer Society. By 1989, the total proceeds of this event had raised in excess of $150,000 to benefit local charities.
In 1993, a 501-C(3) non-profit corporation was formed. In that year. we established a fifteen-year relationship with the Chaffee Memorial Zoo Hospital. During that period we donated over $350,000. These donations, plus matching funds, resulted in the construction of a hospital and ongoing supplies and equipment for the zoo animals, which fulfilled a life long dream of Dr. Paul Chaffee.
In 2008, we saw a need to invest in the youth of our valley and began a great relationship with The First Tee - Fresno.
This wonderful organization is dedicated to young boys and girls through a program that enhances their lives through the game of golf. They are introduced to The Nine Core Values of life:
Honesty - Integrity - Sportsmanship - Respect - Confidence - Responsibility - Perseverance - Courtesy - Judgment
As of 2022, the Cinco De Mayo Golf Tournament has donated $605,000 to the First Tee - Fresno chapter
to enhance the lives of the kids in our community.
This event has maintained a great reputation and many people consider it to be THE golf tournament to play annually. Throughout the history of the tournament, we have donated all of our proceeds to local charities. This great event has been made possible by the concerted efforts of many residents of Fresno who have maintained the prestige of this tournament.
Now Celebrating over 50 Years of Service to the Community! This all began with casual conversation the Casa Canales Restaurant, a prominent dining and watering hole on Maroa Avenue, in central Fresno. It was 1963 and a group of “regulars” decided to do something good for Fresno.
"Let’s have a golf tournament!", they thought. It would be fun and we could raise money for charities in need in the Fresno area. They decided to hold it on May the 5th to coincide with Cinco De Mayo holiday. So it became the Cinco De Mayo Golf Tournament.
Emilio Canales, the proprietor, became the chairman. I am aware of only one other person present at that original discussion - Bob Sellers. He is probably the only original member still living.
In the early years, local charities that benefited from this humble organization included the Arthritis Foundation. $1,500 was raised with the hope of raising $2,000 the following year. Several NFL players came out to play, Len Rhode, Cas Banazak, Randy Beisler, Daryle Lamonica, Marv Hubbard & Jim Otto. The photos of these guys depict the styles of yesterday, thankfully gone, and golf courses you would not recognize today.
Other charities include St Agnes Hospital, Valley Children’s Hospital, and the American Cancer Society. By 1989, the total proceeds of this event had raised in excess of $150,000 to benefit local charities.
In 1993, a 501-C(3) non-profit corporation was formed. In that year. we established a fifteen-year relationship with the Chaffee Memorial Zoo Hospital. During that period we donated over $350,000. These donations, plus matching funds, resulted in the construction of a hospital and ongoing supplies and equipment for the zoo animals, which fulfilled a life long dream of Dr. Paul Chaffee.
In 2008, we saw a need to invest in the youth of our valley and began a great relationship with The First Tee - Fresno.
This wonderful organization is dedicated to young boys and girls through a program that enhances their lives through the game of golf. They are introduced to The Nine Core Values of life:
Honesty - Integrity - Sportsmanship - Respect - Confidence - Responsibility - Perseverance - Courtesy - Judgment
As of 2022, the Cinco De Mayo Golf Tournament has donated $605,000 to the First Tee - Fresno chapter
to enhance the lives of the kids in our community.
This event has maintained a great reputation and many people consider it to be THE golf tournament to play annually. Throughout the history of the tournament, we have donated all of our proceeds to local charities. This great event has been made possible by the concerted efforts of many residents of Fresno who have maintained the prestige of this tournament.
