No golf, no problem; fundraiser hits record $55K
Despite rain and lightning knocking out the golf portion of the First Tee of Broward County fundraiser at the Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club in Boca Raton on Oct. 7, a record number was raised for the one-day event.
“We were able to raise $55,000, which was the most raised in the history of the First Tee of Broward, and any of our chapters for a one-day event,” said Jack Bloomfield, director of operations for the First Tee of Broward County. “The most we had raised previously was $35,000. We had a lot of support from our corporate sponsors.”
“We were driving out to the holes when lightning starting hitting and the sirens went off,” Bloomfield said. “We went back and waited to go back out. We were there between two and three hours, hoping to get at least nine holes in. It was also a torrential rain, so we wound up moving the dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 3:30. The majority of the people stayed, including our speakers, and the veterans.”
Bloomfield said the speakers made their presentations, the auction was held, the raffles were drawn and everyone received a voucher for one foursome to come back and play the course – either in the month of October or starting next May.
Bloomfield said many of the players already had returned.
“Even without golf, it worked out great,” Bloomfield said. “We had a ton of corporate support. Our co-presenting sponsors of Spirit Airlines and Norwegian Cruise Lines, along with Embraer Airlines, Porsche West Broward, Bank United, Insperity, The Bucket List, Ultimate Software and The Tee Times really helped in the cause.
“It just goes to show the support we are getting,” Bloomfield said. “We had 80 people at the dinner, and there were about 100 when we started, so everyone pretty much stayed.”
sportscom5@aol.com
