photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Kansas head football coach Lance Leipold speaks to a crowd of patrons at the 13th annual Audio-Reader Golf Classic at Eagle Bend Golf Course on Monday, June 5, 2023 in Lawrence, Kansas.

Nearly a week since returning his team to campus for summer workouts, Kansas head football coach Lance Leipold chaired the thirteenth annual Audio-Reader Golf Classic on Monday at Eagle Bend Golf Course.

The fundraiser, returning Leipold for his second year as chairman after raising over $30,000 last year, provides reading services for newspapers, magazines, theater performances and more via the internet and closed-circuit radio for visually impaired residents across Kansas and Missouri.

This year’s event showcased a full day of golf, BBQ luncheon, skills contests, a silent auction of KU collector’s items and a drawing to win a free car. Additionally, participants were invited to compete against KU women’s golf coach Lindsay Kuhle on hole No. 12 during the tournament.

All proceeds went to supporting the Kansas Audio-Reader Network, which supports a 13-member staff and enlists hundreds of volunteers to provide year-round services through Kansas Public Radio’s on-campus station at KU.

Those voices become 24/7 friends for daily listeners like William Hawkins.

“These guys become part of your life,” Hawkins said. “Just think about, if you didn’t have great vision, what would your life be like? The experience completely changes and these guys fulfill that need and they do it so well.”

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

William Hawkins (left) and Beth McKenzie (right) share a laugh outside the clubhouse during the 13th annual Audio-Reader Golf Classic at Eagle Bend Golf Course on Monday, June 5, 2023 in Lawrence, Kansas.

Hawkins, a Kansas City, Missouri, native, has combatted glaucoma since birth and first learned of the Audio-Reader program clear back in 1973 while in grade school. He owns and operates Hawkins Financial Service just down the street from the famous 18th and Vine jazz district.

A KU hoops fanatic and regular sports listener, Hawkins joined forces with the event’s organizers, Beth McKenzie and Meredith Johanning, in 2015 and has become a familiar face at the benefit.

It’s no secret KU football’s been trending upward since then, but the excitement hasn’t stopped Leipold from staying rooted in town while giving Hawkins a reason to tune in to hear the Jayhawks on Saturdays in the fall.

“We’ve been blessed in our 25 months in Lawrence,” Leipold said. “How we’ve been received as a family, how our staffing program has been received and to have a chance to see, again, the generous people, like yourselves, giving up time always resonates with us.”