Zak Open will benefit local kids

The Mark Rypien Foundation and the YWCA are teaming up to help local children.

Next Sunday, the seventh annual Zak Celebrity Open will begin with a “Summer Celebration” dinner and auction at Northern Quest Casino. At 4:30 p.m., a gourmet dinner will be served, along with a silent and live auction and entertainment from the Smothers Brothers comedy team. Tickets are $125.

The celebrity golf tournament, taking place on July 31, has been filled.

Celebrities attending the dinner include Edgar Martinez, Tommy Lasorda and Mark Few.

Raffle tickets are available for a new H3 Hummer that will be given away at the end of the dinner and auction. Raffle tickets are $25 each and are available at George Gee Automotive in Liberty Lake.

The Rypien Foundation supports local programs for children and their families fighting cancer. The YWCA Child and Youth Services provide support and services for local homeless children. Proceeds from the Zak Celebrity Open will benefit both causes.

For more information, call Candice Lebaron at the YWCA at (509) 326-1190, ext. 154.

Benefit concert planned

Rock For the Cure and raise money and create awareness for breast cancer research.

Visit the Big Easy Concert House, 919 W. Sprague Ave., Saturday and enjoy music from headliner Free Range Robots and Buffalo Jones, Cristopher Lucas and Robert Dunn & the North Country.

The show begins at 7 p.m., and tickets are $10. Rockers of all ages are encouraged to attend.

All proceeds raised from the concert will directly benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Three-Day Walk.

For more information, call Jason Johnson at (509) 768-4729. To purchase tickets visit www.buffalojones.net.