Golf enthusiasts laced up their cleats and hit the fairways at the scenic MountainGate Country Club for the annual LAFD Invitational, presented by Raytheon. In addition to an exciting day on the greens, the event featured an awards dinner, as well as a silent and live auction—all to help raise money for the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund.
Event Coordinator Juliet Brandolino said, “It can’t be understated, the significance of the role Raytheon plays as our Presenting Sponsor. We truly appreciate their level of commitment to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. They also really get into the spirit of the day and their enthusiasm is contagious.”
Kicking off the day was the Golf Ball Drop. Tickets sold by a team of dedicated volunteers offered participants a chance to win either $2,500 cash, an HDTV (courtesy of Symons Capital Management) or an iPad. Each ticket correlated with a numbered ball, all of which were dropped at the same time from the top of Truck 88’s aerial. The lucky winners were: Guy Miller ($2,500); David N. Smith (HDTV); and Michael Hayes (Apple iPad). Kicking off a domino effect of generosity, Smith donated the HDTV to the live auction where representatives from Bradawn offered the winning bid and then immediately donated it to Fire Station 64. So in the end, all of the prizes went to firefighters.
Hayes decided to participate after seeing how the Relief Association. which runs the charity, helped the family of fallen firefighter Glen Allen. Of the fundraising Golf Ball Drop, he said, “I think it’s a good donation opportunity and I will definitely buy another ball next year.”
The stunning weather and beautiful location made for perfect golfing conditions for the full-round scramble tournament. Firefighters, along with representatives from sponsor companies and their guests made their way through 18 holes. Though awards (and bragging rights) were at stake, everyone enjoyed the camaraderie.
In the end, however, a few teams and individuals did walk away with those awards Taking 1st place with a score of 54 was the team comprised of David Elliot, Walt Frome, Will Tipton and Robert Steinbacher. Coming in 2nd with a score of 57 was the team of David Thomas, Allen Black and Jim Meacham. Winning 3rd in a scorecard playoff and a score of 59 were teammates Kevin Wright, Dale Gant, Terry Manning, Gary Gatena. And 4th place, also with a score of 59, were Joe Edwards, Darren Ashby, John Jacobsen, Joe Castro.
But, players didn’t need to be on a winning team to land an honor. Thanks to individual contests throughout the course, each player had a chance to shine. Those winners were: Steve Robinson (Putting Contest); Julie Sherman (Women’s Long Drive); Brian Morris (Men’s Long Drive); Joe Castro (Closest to the Pin, 3′ 8″); Joe Edwards, Darren Ashby, Joe Castro, John Jacobsen (Hustle Hole); Denny Coville (Worst Shot); and Barry Hedberg (Guess Your Drive).
Of course, before the victors were named, attendees had the chance to bid on exciting items in the silent auction. People quickly vied for everything from travel packages to DVD sets to wine selections. Then the honors were handed out as people enjoyed an incredible surf-and-turf meal during the awards dinner, sponsored by the Ben B. & Joe E. Eisenberg Foundation.
With bellies full and spirits high, the live auction kicked off with Capt. Steve Ruda acting as the auctioneer. The auction included quite a few incredible items, such as a keyboard autographed by former Doobie Brother Michael McDonald and a fire helmet autographed by members of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“My favorite part of the auction was when Dawna Gray, CEO of Bradawn Insurance Services, got into a bidding war with station 64,” Brandolino said. “The end result was her gracious donation of the HDTV to their station. That moment, when the guys from 64’s realized what Dawna was doing, will stay with me for a long, long time.”
The whole day was a smashing success, raising thousands of dollars for Widows & Orphans, which assists firefighters and their families in times of need. The event would not have happened if not for the generosity of sponsors such as Lewis, Marenstein, Wicke, Sherwin & Lee, LLP; HealthSCOPE Benefits; Titan Advisors; and Bradawn Insurance Services.
Brandolino said, “We are extremely grateful to the Eisenberg Foundation for being our fabulous Awards Dinner Sponsor. Like Bradawn Insurance Services, Raytheon and all of our other wonderful sponsors, they make it a ‘family affair’ by having generations of folks show up to play. We love the concept of families helping families.”
The Relief staff and volunteers made the whole event flow seamlessly from tee off to dessert. But there’s no time to relax. Work has already begun on next year’s LAFD Invitational, which should prove to be another excellent day on the fairway, all in the name of charity.
“Don’t participate if you are looking for a routine day of golf,” said Brandolino. “Participation means you are going to laugh a lot throughout the day. You’ll experience a true sense of camaraderie, enjoy delicious cuisine and a beautiful atmosphere. Participation means you are making a difference in the lives of the families of heroes who need assistance.”