Pipes, doorknobs, and a gaping-mouth clown dotted the courtyard outside the University of Iowa Pappajohn Business Building on Sunday.
UI students and community members navigated the obstacles, arranged on a makeshift nine-hole mini-golf course, as part of the Tippie Build’s second Hammer Head Putt-Putt event.
Tippie Build, a College of Business organization, uses proceeds from a variety of fundraisers to build one Habitat for Humanity home each year for a local family. The committee raises roughly $50,000 a year to fund the projects.
Around 15 teams competed in the mini-golf tournament on Sunday, in which the group was looking to raise between $3,000 and $3,500, said Andrew Sulhoff, a member of the UI American Marketing Association.
Tippie Build partnered with the marketing association for the first time this year.
“It feels really good to help out a family in need,” said John Sherlock, a 22 year-old UI student and member of the marketing association who volunteered at the event. “It is nice to see Tippie involved in the community.”
Kasie Ver Schuure, director of resource development for Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity, said she was pleased with Tippie Build’s fundraising efforts.
“Students are doing this selflessly and coming together to help a family in need, and I think that’s really great,” said the UI alumna. “I think it’s very honorable of them, and it’s very representative of the University of Iowa.”
A number of local businesses — including Voss Distributing, Play It Again Sports, and the University of Iowa Community Credit Union — sponsored the holes. Golfers donated $5 per round.
Tippie Build students also focused on raising funds through a raffle — Panchero’s gift cards, a quilt, and a free round of golf at Pleasant Valley Golf Course.
“We reached out to other student business organizations to come play,” Sulhoff said. “Word of the event spread around the business school, and we had a lot of people sign up ahead of time.”
A handful of UI business students showed up Sunday — no tee time necessary.
Hayley Supple, a 22-year-old UI senior, said she always tries to support the events put on by Tippie Build. Fellow senior Andy Warack said he came to support friends who organized the event.
Xiaoling Liang, a UI junior and member of the marketing association, came clad in Tippie College of Business apparel and snapped pictures of students involved.
“I think the more sponsors we can get to support Tippie Build, the better,” the 23-year-old said.
Tippie Build built its first house during the 2006-2007 school year. The student organization successfully built its first energy-efficient home for an Iowa City family with three children the following year.
The UI’s Saturdays in Service program has also partnered with Habitat for Humanity to help in home construction in the past.