French Creek Golf Club, an exclusive golf club in northwestern Chester County, will be the site of a charity golf tournament on Monday, July 27, that will benefit Animal House Project (AHP), a Pottstown-based nonprofit organization that serves pet owners in need.

This year's event, which marks the eighth annual golf outing, will be held at a unique venue and will also have late lunch/early dinner served following the event, similar to last year. The tournament is in honor of Yoshi, an akita that served as AHP's "spokespuppy" for 12 years prior to his death in 2024.

"When we were going to talk to churches, rotaries or organizations, we would say he weighed 127 pounds," said MaryBeth Yannessa, AHP board president. "I will explain that large-breed dogs like Yoshi, when they enter the shelter systems, are the first to be put down because they don't have the space to accommodate the large dogs."

Registration for the tournament will start at 8 a.m. on the day of the event. There will be a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. The registration fee includes boxed breakfast, range balls, green fees, the use of a cart, a swag bag, access to the clubhouse and beverages on the course.

There will be a cash prize for a hole-in-one at the event. There will also be a 50-50 drawing, as well as basket drawings. All of the baskets have a value of at least $150.

"We're known for the baskets," Yannessa said. "We have 25 baskets that we put out, and then we have five above $200, as well."

Last year, AHP drew 94 golfers at the seventh annual outing; there were 125 total attendees. The event raises between $30,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on weather and attendance.

Proceeds from the tournament will be used to fund AHP, which was founded in 2001 as the 2 Moon Junction Animal House Project in East Fallowfield Township. Yannessa later formed the Chester County Pet Food Pantry in 2004, which eventually became AHP.

Since 2013, AHP has donated 9.5 million pounds of pet food to the local community. AHP operates a pet food pantry, retail location and a rescue team for endangered animals. All of the clients that the organization serves live below the 200% poverty level; many are senior citizens and/or retired military personnel who live on fixed incomes.

"Animal House Project is dedicated to preventing hunger, neglect and suffering among rescue animals," Yannessa said. "Through our pet food pantries, rescue support, veterinary access and disaster response, we help keep pets healthy and families together with rescue operations nationwide."

AHP is always in need in financial donations, pet food donations and volunteers to help with distribution and events. For more information, visit http://www.animalhouseproject.org, search for "Animal House Project" on Facebook, call 484-949-8329 or email info@animalhouseproject.org.

French Creek Golf Club is located at 4500 Conestoga Road, Elverson. The event will be held rain or shine. Individual golfers may also participate and will be placed in playing groups of four

Those interested may register at https://ahp-golf.perfectgolfevent.com. Sponsorship opportunities, also available at the same link, are available until Friday, July 10.

"We're blessed," Yannessa said. "It takes an army to do what we do, and we sure have an army."

AHP is also hosting a companion pet food pantry event on Saturday, July 11, at its headquarters, 72 Robinson St., Pottstown, and a pet vaccine clinic from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, at AHP's Retail for Rescue location, 1486 S. Hanover St., Pottstown. Registrations are available online on AHP's website.