Golf Wrap-Up & More

Written September 20, 2014 1:01 pm

We just had our Brooke Healey Foundation Golf wrap up meeting and can’t be any more excited and proud over what a tremendous day it turned out to be. Our partnership with Sal Pignio and Marriott Hotels along with tournament sponsor Steve Oliver and Manhattan Ridge Advisors really brought us to another level. Stefani and I would like to thank them, the golfers, the BHF board members, volunteers, sponsors, and all who donated goods and services to the cause. Without all mentioned above it truly could not be the event it turned out to be. We raised a lot of money that will benefit families going through similar struggles as we have, raise much needed funds for research, and award scholarships to local seniors civically involved with their community. Please visit the “Who we have helped” page on our website to read more.

At our wrap up meeting we discussed ways to improve our event for next year. Believe it or not we actually have a list of ways we can make the event an even greater success. Every golfer I spoke to expressed interest in returning and many who were unable to attend claimed they were coming next year. Clearly, the steak station and watermelon-infused drinks served on hole 1 by Bridgewater Marriott were a big hit. As were the vodka-infused lemon ices Zita’s Homemade Ice Cream gave away on hole 10. So, we discussed having two more stations next year. Meaning there would be two on each of the 9 holes, two on the front nine and two on the back nine. Just a little hint for you early birds, there may be a Bloody Mary station to kick off the day next year.

It was such an extraordinary event thanks to so many. Our support from our sponsors was tremendous and they really shined and helped to put us over the top in making it such a high quality affair. The bag drop boys told us we shattered a course record at New Jersey National with sponsor signs. We had at least 6 sponsor signs at all eighteen holes. They said the most they have ever seen was 2-3 signs per hole and those were at events that have been running for 5-10 years.

Sean Toohey, the course pro, said he has never seen a 1st Annual golf outing run so smoothly with so much support and participation. He couldn’t believe the turn out for an August event. He also said our event ran much smoother than many of his corporate events that have been in existence for years. We heard so much positive feedback from all in attendance it was overwhelming. Many golfers raved to our committee it was one of the best, if not the best outing they have ever been a part of. All of this positive feedback got the foundation and committee so excited, we have been talking for weeks how we are going to step up our game. You will not want to miss next year!

The BHF has been so busy lately with things like attending the New Providence street fair and other outlets to build awareness. Stef and I are taking the kids to Washington DC this weekend for the Curefest for childhood cancer. We will have a booth set up to help publicize The Brooke Healey Foundation and promote awareness. We will also take part in the candlelight vigil on the front lawn of the White House.

We are also very excited to announce a fundraiser taking place on October 26 to benefit Lucas Reiling, a New Providence boy battling brain stem and spinal tumors for over 6 years now. There is so much information surrounding this event that we will send out a newsletter in the coming weeks. In short we will host the “March a Mile with Lucas” Halloween parade right here in New Providence. Hopefully Lucas feels up to it, but we are going to March behind Lucas in his adaptive trike the Brooke Healey Foundation purchased for him. Here is a video of Lucas riding his bike.

Hope to see you all soon!

Thanks for your continued support!

Steve