Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (July 5, 2017) – The 2017 Abilities First Golf Classic was held June 26, 2017 at The Powelton Club in Newburgh, N.Y. Over 117 people attended the annual fundraising event and helped to raise approximately $52,000 in support of the Abilities First mission to provide people with disabilities and their families support to attain independence, self- determination, integrationThe practice of including people with special needs in all aspects of typical community life. Abilities First believes that if integration occurs naturally in a setting (e.g., classroom, place of work, residential neighborhood, etc.), the ratio of people with disabilities to those without should approximate what is found in the total population. That is, less than or equal to 20% people with disabilities. More and acceptance by others through educationThe process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits. We believe all children and adults can benefit from quality education. More, exploration and experience.
Proceeds of the event benefit 1,400 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout the Hudson Valley. Participants of Abilities First day habilitationThe acquisition of certain skills required for a self-sufficient life. More and vocational training programs joined the golfers for a special Lunch & Putt event sponsored by MVP Health Care. The participants volunteered their time to assist with the event and were on hand to greet golfers. The Golf Classic provided them an opportunity to develop social and vocational skills by meeting members of the community and assisting with the event while still having fun out on the putting green.
The 2017 Golf Classic Tournament Winners:
Winners of the Men’s Scramble:
1st Place: Craig Irwin, Larry Breslow, Pat McCourt, Mark Burlingame
2nd Place: Pat Rose, Tim Rose, Anthony Sicari, Luc Rancourt
Winners of the Women’s Scramble:
1st Place: Lori Johnson, Cindy Rosa, Elizabeth Mard, Mae Maimone
2nd Place: Judy Vitolo, Ita Rahilly, Laura Boettcher
Winners of the Mixed Scramble:
1st Place: Lynn Melby, Frank Malloy, Cheryl Ogles, Fiona Smarrito
2nd Place: Yuko Nozawa, Mike Nozawa, Phil Lawry, Alan Creais
Longest Drive on Hole # 12
Women: Judy Vitolo
Men: RJ Martucci
Closest to the Pin on Hole # 16
Women: Cindy Rosa
Men: Chris Healy
The 2017 Golf Classic Committee was led by Manny Dizon & Craig Irwin. Golf Classic Co-chair Craig Irwin is a Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch in Poughkeepsie, NY and serves on the Abilities First Board of Directors. Manny Dizon is Vice President at National Bank of Canada Financial.
“The 2017 Golf Classic committee and Abilities First would like to thank the sponsors, golfers, volunteers, staff, course specialty vendors and participants for making this a successful charity golf tournament. The support provided by all of these individuals allows Abilities First to continue to provide exceptional programs and services to those with developmental disabilities,” said Craig Irwin, Co-chair of the 2107 Golf Committee and Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch.
The event’s major sponsors included Wendy’s of the Hudson Valley, Rose & Kiernan, Inc., Henry Page Development, Merrill Lynch – The Irwin / Burlingame / Bagtas, and Marvin and Company, P.C. CPAs, MVP Health Care, First Student, Mackey, Butts & Wise LLP, McCabe & Mack, LLP and media partner Poughkeepsie Journal.