25^th Annual Golf Outing, Monday, May 9, 2011

With a beautiful sunny day as its backdrop, the 25^th Anniversary of The Community Fund’s Annual Golf Outing proved to be a tremendous success!  The event, held for the second year running at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, hosted 128 enthusiastic golfers who came out to enjoy a day of golf and camaraderie with friends and neighbors.  

 This anticipated annual event has come a long way since its beginning in 1987.  The first annual outing was held at Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester. “It was actually a “Golf & Tennis” outing”, noted Richard Restiano, owner of Arista Camera Specialist in Bronxville and Tennis Chairman of the 2^nd Annual Outing in 1998.  That first event, which hosted approximately 12 golfers and 8 tennis players, also included a fashion show. “In those days only the men participated in the event.  We organized a luncheon and fashion show for the ladies, using clothing from a local Tuckahoe designer Misook Doolittle, so that there would be something for everyone”, recalled Bunny Rappaport, who chaired the fashion show for three years.   

 The funds raised by the Golf Outing make up about 15% of the overall revenue the Community Fund earns each year, which in-turn determines the amount of Grants the Community Fund is able to allocate per year.  Last year The Community Fund allocated $523,525 in grants to over 25 local agencies and programs supporting the communities of Bronxville, Eastchester and Tuckahoe. 

 “Not only does the outing increase our ability to give out needed grants, it is also is our way to involve the local business community, as well as community leaders and residents, in a day of goodwill and support of our mission.” emphasized Melinda Burge, Executive Director of the Fund.  “I am so appreciative of the outpouring of generosity and support we received from the community.  Every year they come through for us!”

 This year’s event began with lunch and the Putting Contest qualifying round. The thirty-two foursomes then headed out for a round of golf, scramble format, complete with prizes and holes-in-one contests. Each year Comizio Orhthodontics and Pepe Auto Group sponsor the hole-in-one prizes as part of the tournament.  A $10,000 Cash Prize awaited golfers at one hole; and stunning automobiles from Pepe Cadillac, Infinity, Mercedes and Porsche of White Plains and Pepe Mercedes of Larchmont graced the Siwanoy acreage, tempted the golfers at another.  Still, no one was able to make that hole-in-one which has eluded golfers for 25 years! 

 However, there were plenty of awards to go around.  The “First Place Winning Team” went to the husband and wife pairing of Rose and Steve Crawford & Molly and Tom Hendrick.  “Second Place” was taken by Dave Harris, Scott Horton, John Near and Rick Schramm.  The “Closest to the Pin” competition was won by Chuck Rollins.  “Most Accurate Drive” went to Dominic Cesirani and the “Longest Drive” competitions were won by Ryan Kenny for the men and Katharine Outcalt for the women.  The winner of the Putting Contest, sponsored by Bertine, Hufnagle, Headly, Zeltner, Drummond & Dohn, LLP was Andrew Garcia, who made a valiant attempt at the $2500 cash prize putt! 

 The evening concluded with Cocktails and a Live Auction.  Former Mayor John Fitzpatrick of Tuckahoe ran the Live Auction and as expected, provided much entertainment for the evening.  For those who missed out on the Live Auction, there was also a Silent Auction and Raffle which went on throughout the day for those who wanted a chance.  Also, in celebration of the 25^th Anniversary, every participant received a specially designed Community Fund golf umbrella, generously donated by Community Fund President Fred Taylor and David Walker of Besson Oil.  

 Long time sponsors of the event Chuck and Mark Rollins of the Rollins Agency, Inc., who also Co-chaired the event for over 10 years, addressed the crowd briefly, acknowledging the many people who made the event what it is today.  “We have great memories of the first outing when only a few foursomes were involved.  Since then the outing has raised in excess of one million dollars and helped The Community Fund fulfill its mission of providing funding and support to the local agencies and programs serving the health education and welfare of the community.  We are grateful for all the years we have been involved and all that we were able to get out of it in the way of friendships and connection to the non profits in our community.”

 The Community Fund’s golf outing was generously sponsored by our local community supporters: Grand Sponsors The Generoso Pope Foundation, Pepe Auto Group, The Raffiani Family Foundation, and The Rollins Agency, Inc.; Cart Sponsor, Tuckahoe Eastchester Lions Club; Putting & Cocktail Sponsor Bertine, Hufnagel, Headley, Zeltner, Drummond, & Dohn, LLP; Cocktail Sponsors BenefitMall, Bronxville Ley Real Estate, The Casale Family Foundation, Margaret & Anthony Colavita, Comizio Orthodontics, Rose & Steve Crawford, Fenway Partners, Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate, Hudson Valley Bank, Hymes and Associates, CPA and Paraco Gas; Lunch Sponsors Bronxville Rotary Club, D.C. Ranieri Insurance Agency, Dr. Joseph Manzi, D.D.S., Eastchester Odyssey Diner, Henry A. Blom, D.D.S., Family Dentistry,  Joella & John Lykouretzos;, Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty, Medi-Ray, Inc., Ragette Real Estate, Inc., The Sears Family – Darling Clementines, The Tap House, Tuckahoe.  The Community Fund would also like to thank the 50 Tee Sponsors as well as the numerous donations to the Auction/Raffle, from local businesses and community members,  all of which  helped make the outing a success!

  Melinda Burge, Executive Director