Competing For a Cause: Caps Partake in Caps Fore Charity Pres. by Tanium

As a group that prides itself on being skilled golfers, the Washington Capitals recently had the opportunity to prove it while simultaneously raising money for a good cause.

This past Friday, Capitals players participated in Caps Fore Charity presented by Tanium to benefit Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation, the official charity of the team.
"It's beyond words to be here tonight with the Capitals players," said Kim Mackey, Tanium Vice President of Federal Partners. "I'm a hockey mom on top of everything else, and the Capitals have been a part of our lives for the last 20 years, so we're just so thrilled to be here."
The event provided for a special combination of charitable work and one of the Caps players' most popular off-ice passions.
"It's great that we're doing this, and I got some great company here tonight," said Nicklas Backstrom. "Golf is a sport that I like too, so it's been great, and I had a blast."

He added, "I think it's so important that we're doing this for a good cause, and I mean, it's not just us. It's the sponsors coming out too and supporting us, so we get to know them too. It's really important and means a lot to us, so we're happy to be here."
It was MSE Foundation's first Topgolf fundraiser, as players and alumni participated in two rounds of tournament play and interacted with sponsors and fans. Proceeds will be used to support MSE Foundation's efforts in the community. Capitals radio play-by-play voice John Walton and NBC Sports Washington host Alexa Landestoy served as emcees for the evening.
Tanium served as the Hole-In-One presenting sponsor, The Engineering Groupe, J S O N A R T, KBR Corporation, KPMG, n2grate and TekSynap were Eagle sponsors, Capital Outdoor, CareFirst, Forbes Tate Partners, Jose Cuervo, Miracle4Melanie, Sheehy Auto Stores and Two Guys Collision Center were Birdie sponsors, and Maryland Mojo Photo and Video Booths and Modulex Mid-Atlantic were In-Kind sponsors.
"KPMG is proud to sponsor the Monumental Foundation and their charities. It's something that aligns with our values as a company, so we're really excited to be here," said Diana Macomber, KPMG Market Development Leader. "We often support organizations in the community where we have common ground, and this is one that we feel really strongly about. We love the work that the Monumental Foundation does in the community, and we're always happy to be a part of it."
Each Topgolf bay having one player or two alumni assigned to it created an intimate setting, where sponsors and fans were able to view them in a new light.

Macomber said, "It's great to interact with the players and get to know them one-on-one. Obviously we see them on TV, but to talk with them and get to know them personally is really unique and special."
Her sentiment was shared by other attendees, like Jason Kampf of J S O N A R T.
On his favorite moment from the event, Kampf said, "Just seeing all the guys interact off the ice. It's a great group and being able to chat with some of those guys is a lot of fun. You watch them and support them at the games, but having that personal interaction is really enjoyable."
He added, "This evening is a great way to create a larger impact than I can do on my own. With the help of Monumental and the support of the team, my money goes a lot further. I also get to enjoy this atmosphere, and I know that we create a better result."
It was an atmosphere that was appreciated not only by the sponsors and fans, but also the players.
"I think this is a great event," said Marcus Johansson. "It's fun to go out and do something else, and it's kind of easier to talk to people too and get to know people doing something that everyone thinks is fun."
"It's a lot of fun, and it's nice to be able to give back," added Trevor van Riemsdyk. "These people show us so much support and play a big role in why we're so successful."
And as a member of Macomber's team, van Riemsdyk's strong play was somewhat of a surprise.

"Trevor's a bit of a ringer," said Macomber. "We weren't expecting that."
After hearing this, van Riemsdyk said, "I wouldn't say a ringer, but this type of game suits me where it doesn't have to look pretty. You just kind of hit it in the bays, and it doesn't matter how it gets there."
In addition to raising money for charity and interacting with sponsors and fans, Capitals players did have another goal in mind for the evening: win the competition. Whenever scores are involved, the players' competitive sides just seem to come out.
At one point, Alex Ovechkin could be heard giving Backstrom a hard time after one of his turns.
Backstrom said, "He was mad and said that I was cheating, but I don't know what he meant. He's got a good swing actually, but I think he just gets mad at me because I hit them better."
On trying to beat his teammates, Backstrom added, "I would like to take them down, that's for sure, especially Marcus since he's probably the best golfer on the team."
Asked to confirm this, Johansson said, "I don't know. It depends on the day, I think. We have a lot of good golfers on this team."
With players like him and Backstrom effortlessly striking shots wherever they pleased, other Caps searched for any possible advantage they could think of. So, instead of using one of the drivers provided by Topgolf, Nicolas Aube-Kubel decided to bring his own from home.
"I have faith in my teammates to carry me to victory, but I'll use the driver if necessary," said Aube-Kubel. "I'm trying to shoot bombs in here and prove myself, you know. There's a lot of eyes, and you never know who's going to see my shots."
When it came time to announce the winners at the end of the night, the group was led by someone who was overlooked by the rest of his teammates: Conor Sheary with Miracle4Melanie.
"It feels pretty special with all the golfers on the team," said Sheary. "I got carried by a couple other players in my bay, but it was a great night."
While Sheary and his group cherished the victory, the event was about much more than final scores.
"I feel like I'm in a dream," said Mackey. "Alex Ovechkin is just amazing, Nicklas Backstrom is just like you would say, he's the nicest person, and T.J. Oshie, he's here tonight, and he just had his fourth child, so how cool is that for him to spend a little time with us."
Players taking the time out of their hectic schedules to attend the event did not go unnoticed by other sponsors and fans.

"This team rallies behind each other," said Kampf. "It's always evident. Everyone supports other teammates' causes, and this group continuously seems to respond to this community. They do it for one another the same way they support each other out on the ice."
For Macomber, this camaraderie represents and leads to something larger than simply a fun Friday evening.
"I think one of the unique things about Monumental is the participation from the teams and the players," she said. "It's definitely unique, and I think it speaks to the quality of the organization and the family type atmosphere that they promote. It's great for us as a business that gets to interact with them, and I think it really speaks to the core of who they are as an organization."