Fox Chapel Area Rotary smashes record with Charity Golf Classic
The St. Margaret Foundation and Blawnox Community Food Pantry came away big winners as the primary beneficiaries of this year’s Charity Golf Classic by the Fox Chapel Area Rotary.
The record-breaking fundraiser brought in more than $65,000 during the event Sept. 16 at Hill Crest Country Club in Lower Burrell.
“These are two terrific organizations that we are most pleased to help,” said Lanny Seed, Rotary president.
Proceeds also will benefit other local charities and civic groups.
The distribution of grants will be announced in the coming weeks, Seed said.
Nearly 90 golfers participated. Money was raised through entry fees, tee sponsors and corporate sponsors. A raffle raised nearly $23,000.
“This is our single-most important fundraising event of the year, and nearly all of our 105 members participate in some way,” Seed said. “Our golf committee alone, under Jim Michaels and Harrison Lauer, had 22 members, and they all worked exceptionally well together for months.”
Michaels said an increased number of corporate sponsors and a successful raffle sale boosted proceeds.
Rotarian Ginny Merchant sold 506 tickets alone, raising more than $10,000, Michaels said.
The Blawnox Community Food Pantry, which marked its one-year anniversary in October, is a volunteer-run initiative that helps those in the area who have met tough times.
About 20 families are served each month, and there are plans to expand pantry hours.
The St. Margaret Foundation, independent of UPMC, helps to pay for medicine, oxygen, equipment and other items not covered by insurance. It also provides four shuttles in the Fox Chapel area to help people access doctors, pharmacies and grocery stores.
The foundation also distributes clothes and food to help patients recover at home.
The golf committee, headed by Michaels and Lauer, includes Greg Benckart, Bill Boag, Bruce Bowden, Bill Dawson, George Grune, Dennis Hoffman, Al Hribar, Fred Leech, Wes Posvar, Ward Powell, Rick Ranii, Rosanne Saunders, Don Shaw, Jeff Todd, Jamie Uber, Vici Wayne and Richard Wolf.
The Fox Chapel Area Rotary meets at 11:45 a.m. Wednesdays in the Lauri Ann West Community Center, 1220 Powers Run Road, O’Hara.
New members are welcome.
Tawnya Panizzi is a TribLive reporter. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached at tpanizzi@triblive.com.
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