SM Local 435 hosts largest-ever cornhole tournament

On February 5, SMART SM Local 435 (Jacksonville, Fla.) hosted its seventh annual Voluntary Death Benefit Fund Cornhole Tournament, where the local sold raffle tickets for an Academy Sports + Outdoors gift card to support the voluntary death benefit fund. The tournament — which included free food and a cash prize for winners — was Local 435’s largest yet.

“We had over 150 members, family, friends, local politicians and Locals 15, 85 and 399 attend this event,” said Local 435 Business Manager Lance Fout. “We were able to raise over $8,000 for our voluntary death benefit fund.”

In addition to members of SMART Local 85 (Atlanta, Ga.), SMART Local 399 (Charleston, S.C.) and SMART Local 15 (Central Florida), building trades brothers and sisters from UA Local 234 and IBEW Local 177 participated in the tournament, as well as Jackson City Councilmembers Randy White and Reggie Gaffney and former Florida State Senator Tony Hill.

“Special thanks to Ray Burnsed Jr. and Benjamin Burnsed with Rays Metal Works, Jon Croft from Ferber Sheet Metal and Florida SMACNA for coming out today and supporting a great cause for our members,” Local 435 wrote on Facebook following the event.

The local extended its gratitude to sponsors Milwaukee Tool, Equipment Share of Jacksonville, MarkAir and Phoenix Metals, who spent the day at the tournament, plus the many raffle sponsors and board sponsors: PowerNet Credit Union, Conklin Metal, Duval Teachers United, attorney John Kattman, American Income Life, IBEW Local 1205, Illingworth Engineering, Southern Benefit Administrators, DEWALT Tools, World Electric of Jacksonville, Tom Barrow Company, SPI of Jacksonville, Black Flag Cornhole and AirMail Jax.