No one can know how many lives have been made better thanks to Kara Zinke. The 18 year old died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1993. Back then, because Kara was an organ donor, four people’s lives were saved through the gifts of her heart, kidneys and liver.

These days Kara’s family organizes the Kara Zinke Emergency Fund Golf Tournament to help local families who, because of illness, accident or other tragedy, find themselves in emergency situations. The funds, often as much as $13,000 a year or more, are distributed through a partnership with the Canaan Northwest Lions Club.

20 foursomes teed up for Saturday’s 10th Annual Tournament at the Canaan Country Club where the mood was festive and the weather was New England autumn gorgeous, and four generations of Zinkes were on hand to oversee the event.

For the Zinke family the money raised from this tournament is their way to give back to a community that showed them so much kindness when they needed it most.

The Annual Kara Zinke Emergency Fund Golf Tournament is the organization’s major fundraiser for the year. To learn more about the fund or to make a donation visit thekarazinkeemergencyfund@yahoo.com.