Continuing the legacy of hope and encouragement for the youth of Seeley Lake

SEELEY LAKE – After the Charlie Wolff Memorial Golf Tournament last September, organizers Mark and Ruby Wilson decided they wanted to do something beyond the tournament that provided ongoing financial support for the community of Seeley Lake. With encouragement from Double Arrow Golf Pro Nathan Miller, they founded Charlie's Helping Hands 501(c) 3 as a way to honor Charlie's memory and his unwavering goal of making the world a better place that started with the youth of the Seeley Lake area.

"Our hope is that we can learn from Charlie's example and help provide a resource to aid in the personal, scholastic and/or athletic growth of the young individuals who will become the community of the future," the Wilsons said.

Charlie was a long-time engineer for the Boeing company, based out of Seattle, Washington. He retired in 2008 and spent his time between his home in Green Valley, Arizona and his summer place at Big Sky Lake near Seeley Lake.

"Seeley Lake was Charlie's dream," wrote his wife Peggy Wolff in an email. "He loved the people and the area. He loved flying, fishing and golfing here." 

Peggy said he loved the couples golf night Chelsea Cahoon started. "Charlie jumped in with both BIG feet to make a costume to bring smiles and good humor for the night," Peggy wrote.

Not only did he enjoy golfing, he was invested in the Double Arrow Golf Course. Mark, Charlie's neighbor and golfing partner, said he would do whatever he could do to make it better. Being a golfer that walked a lot, Charlie saw an opportunity for a roadway between the putting green and the number one tee. He started working with Roundwood West Corporation Owner Kal Kovatch and got the wood chips and poles late last summer. The roadway was finished this spring.

"The people that know about it call it 'Charlie's Road,'" Mark said. "It is just one of those things that not everyone knows it is called Charlie's Road but that is why it was built - because Charlie got it started."

The Wilsons said Charlie was also interested and devoted to helping kids, both monetarily or by just giving his time to assist them, no matter what endeavor that they wanted to pursue - whether it be golf, flying, fishing or just trying to get by.

"Charlie was a big believer in getting the youth pointed in the right direction," Ruby said. "He was just a good mentor."

Siblings Klaire and Klayton Kovatch and Bethany and Owen Hoag were the first Seeley youth Charlie met. They help decorate the little red truck for Seeley Lake Flying Club and tossed candies to the crowds at the Fourth of July parade. 

"As these kids grew up and we met other kids, he was so interested in what they thought and what goals they had," Peggy wrote. "We have always supported the Blackhawks and other youth fundraisers."   

Charlie and his friend Wayne Cahoon were killed in an airplane crash in September 2020. Wayne's son Christian survived and received the funds raised from last year's Charlie Wolff Memorial Golf Tournament.

"Charlie was always interested in helping kids, no matter what age – from six to 20," Mark said. "It was one of those things that the golf tournament is good but we need to be able to extend it into the future. We wanted to make it ongoing."

After visiting with several people regarding this year's tournament, Nathan suggested they start a Foundation to keep Charlie's legacy going.

"This way we have a purpose," Ruby said adding the official organization will be more transparent and there is a five-person board that will decide how the funds will be allocated.

They founded Charlie's Helping Hands. Ruby came up with the name over breakfast and they felt it truly captured the mission. The Wilsons said Charlie quietly did things to help others and they want to see that legacy continue.

"He would probably be, I would say, humbled if he were here because he never wanted recognition for anything," Ruby said.

"It is something he started, he didn't want the publicity over it, but we started the Foundation to carry that attitude forward and that ability to be able to help people," Mark said.

"I knew Charlie was remarkable.  I knew Charlie was both fun and funny, but I didn't realize his impact on others until I read the sympathy cards after his death.  So many miss Charlie Wolff," Peggy wrote.

Since there is no specific target or specific reason other than to help area youth that need the help, Mark said the opportunities are limitless. They hope to grow the Foundation to the point where they can support as many kids as possible.

"If it is individual, if it is group or if it is the whole town of Seeley Lake, I would like to make the town of Seeley Lake a very kid friendly, youth encouraging environment for them to grow up and say, 'There was a foundation that helped me on my way,'" Mark said.

While similar in mission to the Building 4 WC Limited non-profit that was recently established by Cahoon's family to honor Wayne, they are separate entities. The Wilsons hope the two will compliment each other.

"They both have the same goals but they are both to honor different individuals," Mark said. "Even if it was one tragic accident that took them both, it is different circles. The more people we can get to help support the kids of Seeley Lake and surrounding area, regardless of where the help is coming from, the main purpose is to help the kids. We want to work together for a greater end purpose and recognizing what we can do to make the kids' environment better."

Charlie's memorial golf tournament continues this year under a new name, the first annual Charlie's Helping Hands Memorial Golf Tournament. It will be held Tuesday, Aug. 24 at Double Arrow Golf Course. It is already filled to capacity with 144 golfers. This is the Foundation's only major fundraiser that Mark calls, "a start. It is just the beginning."

"As for the Foundation, I don't know the words to express my love and admiration for their incredible work to take Charlie's spirit and create a means to support the community. They are my heroes," Peggy wrote. "[Board members] Mark, Ruby, Randy [Warner], Dave [Spence] and Corey [Dennehy] and of course their spouses are the true helping hands, hearts, minds and souls to create Charlie's Helping Hands. I am externally grateful."

For more information regarding Charlie's Helping Hands or future golf tournaments contact Ruby at 406-240-2655 or Mark at 406-240-3987. To donate to the Foundation make checks payable to Charlie's Helping Hands and mail to c/o Mark & Ruby Wilson, PO Box 1231, Seeley Lake, MT 59868