Meet the Team Helping Drive Our Biggest Fundraiser of the Year
Behind every successful Make-A-Day event is a team of people working to make it happen. This summer, we're excited to welcome two talented interns who are helping make our 8th Annual Make-A-Day Golf Outing our biggest and most impactful yet.
Meet Ryan and Daniel, two students from Columbus Academy who have dedicated their summer to strengthening community partnerships, connecting with local businesses, and helping ensure Make-A-Day can continue serving our neighbors experiencing homelessness and hardship.
Ryan Zand
Ryan is spending his summer securing corporate sponsorships and golfers for this year’s Golf Outing Fundraiser. Every conversation he has with a local business and every foursome he helps register brings us one step closer to funding Make-A-Day's outreach throughout 2026 and beyond.
Ryan brings valuable nonprofit fundraising experience to the role after participating in the Blood Cancer United Student Visionaries of the Year campaign, where he helped raise funds for cancer research. He's also passionate about serving his community, volunteering more than 40 hours over the past year.
Entering his junior year of high school, Ryan balances his commitment to service with a love for science and engineering, spending his free time working on robotics projects, competing in chess with a 1550 ELO rating, and cheering on Ohio State football and the Atlanta Falcons.
Daniel Gao
Joining Ryan this summer is Daniel, a sophomore at Columbus Academy who also recruiting golfers and sponsors for this year’s outing.
Daniel was drawn to Make-A-Day because he enjoys helping others and wants to make a meaningful difference in the community. Throughout the summer, he's helping connect businesses, supporters, and community members with opportunities to get involved in our most important fundraising events of the year.
Known for his optimism, confidence, and willingness to jump in wherever needed, Daniel enjoys playing soccer, listening to audiobooks, and traveling.
Why Their Work Matters
The Golf Outing isn't just another fundraiser, it's what fuels our ability to respond when our neighbors need us most.
The funds raised through this event support Make-A-Day's weekly outreach and Stability Fund, allowing us to meet people where they are with food, hygiene supplies, case management, legal navigation, transportation assistance, housing support, and other critical resources that help remove barriers to stability.
Every sponsorship secured, every golfer registered, and every community partner engaged helps make this work possible.
Join Ryan and Daniel in Making This Year's Golf Outing a Success
Whether you're looking for a fun day on the course, an opportunity to showcase your business, or simply a way to support your community, we'd love to have you involved.
8th Annual Make-A-Day Golf Outing
📅 Date: Friday, August 14, 2026
📍 Location: Champions Golf Course, Columbus, Ohio
⏰ Time: 1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start
There are several ways to support the event:
Register a foursome and enjoy an afternoon of golf while making a difference.
Become a sponsor and demonstrate your commitment to building a stronger Columbus while gaining visibility for your business.
Share the event with friends, coworkers, and community members who may want to participate.
As Ryan and Daniel continue their work this summer, we hope you'll join them in helping us make Make-A-Day’s 8th Annual Golf Outing our most successful one yet. Together, we can create opportunities, remove barriers, and build a community where everyone has the chance to thrive.