Bass event helps Grigg’s owner thank hospital for one of ‘most precious things in my life’

A prominent Tri-Cities family is lending its name and business expertise to a fishing tournament to support families of children being treated at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane.

The 2024 GSM Outdoors & Grigg’s/Tri-Cities Ace Children’s Miracle Tournament, sponsored by Charlie Grigg and his team, will be held Sept. 28 at Columbia Point Marina in Richland.

The bass tournament includes a side pot for the largest walleye caught during the one-day event.

The Griggs are long-time supporters of Sacred Heart, typically raising $100,000 annually for the hospital through their businesses — Grigg’s Department Store in Pasco and its Ace hardware stores.

Ace stores in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho committed $1.5 million to a refresh of the hospitals pediatric intensive care unit, Charlie Grigg said.

Personal connection

The family’s relationship with Sacred Heart began 37 years ago, when Charlie and Robin Grigg learned late in her pregnancy that the upper and lower chambers of their unborn son’s heart were not in sync.

CJ was born healthy and later treated at Sacred Heart, where he received his first pacemaker at the age of 10. It went well and Grigg said his son thrived, playing hockey “really well,” baseball “OK” and basketball and track.

Now 37, the younger Grigg received his fourth pacemaker in January. The surgery was complicated, but successful.

Sacred Heart, Grigg said, gave him “one of the most precious things in my life.”

Grigg said the family was motivated to give back because while it had insurance and resources during a challenging time, other families aren’t so fortunate.

“Helping the hospital make them more comfortable is part of what this money goes to,” he said.

Bass tournament

The Sept. 28 tournament will award 100% of the $200 entry fee to participating anglers and 100% of sponsorship fees — currently $10,600 — to Sacred Heart via the Children’s Miracle Network.

There also will be a raffle for donated items.

Anglers will register on site on Friday, Sept. 27, and blast off from the marina the following morning.

Sponsorship packages are available at four levels: Platinum ($2,000), Gold ($1,500), Silver (1,000) and Bronze ($500).

Dennis Damon, the tournament’s organizers, said late September is the perfect time to organize its first-ever bass tournament — cooling weather and feeding season boost prospects for anglers.

“This is an excellent time of year for bass,” Damon said.

The Grigg team has previously sponsored walleye tournaments. While the 2024 event is focused on bass, there is a side pot for the largest walleye.

The tournament is expected to draw local anglers.

For information and rules, go to the tournament web site or Facebook . Contact Damon by email: dennisd@griggsonline.com

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