For the 30th consecutive year, members of the local business and golf communities came together for United Bank’s annual Kids Golf Classic tournament, benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg. The fundraising event, held at the Parkersburg Country Club, garnered a record-breaking $349,400 this year, surpassing 2025’s record by over $6,000. All funds raised directly impact the more than 1,000 kids throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley that the Boys & Girls Club serves each year.
United Bank founded the Kids Golf Classic in 1997 to raise critical funds needed to keep the Boys & Girls Club open and serving local youth. Since the inaugural tournament, the annual event has raised more than $5.1 million, with annual proceeds accounting for approximately one-fourth of the club’s operating budget. These unrestricted funds help support and strengthen the programs and services the organization provides to children and families throughout the Parkersburg community.
“Over 30 years ago, former United Senior Vice President Chuck Roberts came to me and said that the Boys & Girls Club was having financial difficulties. As a former club kid himself, Chuck was adamant that we find a way to help,” says Richard M. Adams, executive chairman of the Board of United Bankshares, Inc. “In 1997, we started the Kids Golf Classic tournament to raise money. With the help of many, the tournament has been a tremendous success.”
The Boys & Girls Club is a steady presence in the lives of hundreds of youths in the area, providing access to a safe facility with a positive environment and caring adult professionals that foster the club’s four priority outcomes: academic success, healthy lifestyles, good character and leadership and life and workforce readiness. Area youth, many of whom face socioeconomic and geographic challenges, find hope and opportunity through enrichment provided by the Boys & Girls Club. Programs focus on health and life skills; sports, fitness and recreation; education and career; character and leadership; and the arts.
“Our longstanding partnership with United Bank through the Kids Golf Classic continues to make a tremendous impact on the youth and families we serve across our community. As the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg has more than tripled our membership over the last two years, support from events like this has become more important than ever,” says Darlene Murphy, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg. “These funds help ensure our kids have access to academic support, leadership development opportunities, sports and recreation, healthy lifestyle programming and, most importantly, the consistent, caring adults who help guide them toward becoming productive, caring and responsible adults. The needs in our community continue to grow, and so does our responsibility to meet those needs. Parkersburg needs club kids, and our club kids need you—now more than ever—and we are appreciative to all who contribute and take part in this annual event.”
Each year, the tournament receives overwhelming community support from golfers and businesses alike, many of whom have participated since the tournament’s inception. United Bank underwrites the cost of the fundraising event so that 100% of the funds raised by way of entry fees, sponsorships and donations directly benefit the local organization.
In total, 144 golfers participated in the 2026 Kids Golf Classic, which was sponsored by 87 local businesses and community members. Titanium level sponsors with donations of $25,000 or more include The Mary M. Welch Advised Fund of the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation in memory of Mickey Welch and CAS Cable. Platinum level sponsors with donations of $10,000 or more include Astorg & Matheny, Inc.; Chapman Printing Company; Henry Logan Children’s Home Foundation; Mary Anne and Doug Ketelsen; Mary Riccobene; Reagle & Padden, Inc.; Richard Adams; The Ross Foundation; Tri-State Roofing & Sheet Metal Company; United Bank; United Construction Company & Murray Sheet Metal; and Worldpay. Gold level sponsors with donations of $5,000 or more include Bowles Rice LLP; Benchmark Technology Group; Cintas; Deluxe Financial Services; Family Carpet Outlet, Inc.; FIS; Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield; iCapital; Intra-State Insurance Agency; The PM Company; Tim Northrup; and Visa. Silver level sponsors with donations of $1,000 or more include 45 local businesses and community members.
Several other businesses and individuals also contributed to this year’s event, providing personal donations and serving as hole sponsors, helping make the 2026 fundraiser the most successful year yet.
“For nearly three decades, the Kids Golf Classic has been an important part of United Bank’s commitment to supporting the Parkersburg community and the Boys & Girls Club’s mission of serving local youth,” says Chad Mildren, chairman of the tournament and executive vice president and chief consumer lending officer of United Bank. “Over the years, we have seen the lasting impact this organization has had on generations of children and families, and it has been a privilege to support a cause that continues to strengthen our community.”
