The Sundt Foundation and Sundt Construction, Inc. employees surpassed the $1M mark in funds raised for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) during the Annual Mike Gaines Charity Golf Tournament hosted at the Legacy Golf Club in Phoenix.

The golf tournament, which is the second of six MDA charity events scheduled in 2012, collected $48,562 – putting the total funds collected and donated through Mike Gaines Charity Fundraising Events at $1,003,522 since the inaugural tournament was held 11 years ago.

The balance of the more than $1M in funds raised for ALS research through the Mike Gaines Fundraising Events has been contributed by Sundt employees and tournament participants, and most of the monies were given directly to MDA.

Approximately $270,000 in donations has been made through the Sundt Foundation.

Former longtime Sundt Construction, Inc. employee Mike Gaines launched the golf tournament in 2001, shortly after he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Gaines passed away in 2002. His legacy lives on through the Mike Gaines Charitable Fundraising Events, which are held every year in Phoenix, Tucson, Sacramento, San Diego and San Antonio. Funds raised through these events benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association in support of its research to find a cure for ALS. Over the years, the Sundt Foundation has hosted more than 30 of these events nationwide.

“Mike Gaines was an incredible colleague and friend. It has been our privilege to honor Mike’s memory by raising money to help find a cure for ALS by playing the sports he loved during his life,” said Aly Gartin, long-term Sundt employee-owner and administrator for Mike Gaines Charitable Fundraising Events. “We are grateful to all of our employees and supporters who have participated in these events over the years, all of whom have made it possible for us to surpass $1 million in funds raised for MDA to help eradicate this disease.”

The Sundt Foundation, which is funded primarily by Sundt employees and company matching, helps organize and raise awareness for Mike Gaines Charity Fundraising Events held throughout Arizona, California and Texas.