LONGMONT, Colo. — Eighteen holes benefiting charity at Ute Creek Golf Course. It’s an annual event, as authentic as the restaurateurs who organize it.

“People have repeatedly said that this event is one of the best golf tournaments they have ever been to – and we are of course giving them Santiago’s,” said Carmen Morales, CEO of Santiago’s.

One of his three daughters, Rachel Wells, and her husband, Shawn, have helped make this happen every year since 2004.

“We raised $1,200 and we just said we can give back this way,” Rachel Wells said. “People started to understand and wanted to be a part of it, and they were the ones who made it happen.”

Over the years, they have raised over $3 million for various non-profit organizations. This year they raised money for the Anchor Center for Blind Children.

“It’s not just about picking someone and donating them to a great cause,” Shawn Wells said. It’s also personal for us.”

Personal, because the customers who donate at their restaurants and the golfers who play are considered family.

“For every person who did this, who gathered, who donated $1, who bought a chocolate, we are so grateful,” Rachel said. “It’s because of them that we succeeded, not because of us.”

So while the center of attention that day was the $450,000 raised in this tournament for the Anchor Center, Denver7 and West Shore Home had a different surprise in store for Rachel and Shawn, as we are honored to calling them both this week’s everyday heroes. !

Denver7 features a different everyday hero every week. To name a hero in your life, Click here.