Giving thanks for charity through golf

The Cape Region outdoes itself every year in donating thousands of dollars through a variety of golf fundraisers. Thanksgiving week is a fine time to celebrate this rewarding facet of local community support with a few examples.

Bayhealth Foundation held its 10th annual Fall Golf Tournament at the newly renovated Southern Delaware Golf Club in Milford. The $85,000 raised will support the Bayhealth Cancer Institute’s Nurse Navigator Program. Nurse navigators work directly with patients through each step of the cancer care process, from diagnosis through treatment. To make your own donation, go to bayhealth.org/foundation.

The Breezy Golf Tournament held Aug. 5 at The Peninsula Golf & Country Club raised $22,900 for Warrior Community Connect. The Delaware-based nonprofit organization supports local wounded veterans and their families with health and wellness programs. To learn more, go to warriorcommunityconnect.com.

The Milton Fire Department held its annual fundraiser Sept. 11 at The Rookery Golf Club near Milton. The $17,000 raised will be put toward the purchase of new equipment, according to longtime event organizer Paul Caras. You can mail your own donation to 116 Front St., Milton, DE 19968.

The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club held its 15th annual Charity Golf Outing June 24 at The Peninsula. The event netted $28,435 from players and sponsor partners. The proceeds helped support four scholarships for seniors at Sussex Central High School, the Rotary Reads program at Long Neck Elementary School, and the Mid-Sussex Rescue Squad, among other beneficiaries.

Epworth United Methodist Church near Rehoboth Beach operates several community outreach programs, two of which are centered on food and fellowship. For several years, church volunteers have run its Drive Away Hunger golf outing, with the 2024 edition held Oct. 5 at the American Classic Golf Club near Lewes. Event Co-chair David Streit said the event raised about $14,000. He oversees the church’s food pantry, which served more than 12,000 in the past year. The Food Rescue program also collected more than 100 tons of good-condition food that would have been thrown away and put it to good use. For more information or to make donations, go to epworth.faith/food-ministry.

The Delaware Junior Golf Scholarship Fund recognizes and awards high school graduates for their academic achievements, community involvement and accomplishments in junior or scholastic golf. The fund has supported more than 175 students with more than $1.6 million, beginning in 1988. In a typical year, five scholarships are awarded, and if a student maintains a good GPA, the stipends continue for four years. The fund’s primary source of revenue is its always sold-out golf tournament, held this year Aug. 26 at Rehoboth Beach Country Club. The event includes a popular online auction. The 2024 edition netted more than $110,000. For information about 2025 scholarships, contact Fund President Jerry Medd at dejuniorgolfscholarship@gmail.com.

The First Tee of Delaware runs or benefits from tournaments and donations throughout the Cape Region. The organization uses golf to develop character and personal growth. This year’s main event was the April 29 Delmarva Scramble at Rehoboth Beach Country Club. It brought in more than $50,000 at the tournament and auction. Other First Tee fundraisers included $3,000 from the Matt McIntyre Memorial at Bear Trap Dunes; $3,000 from the Pat McRae event at Cripple Creek Country Club in Ocean View; the Razor Memorial Tournament at Plantation Lakes in Millsboro that raised $2,600; the annual November pro-am at The Rookery that netted $6,000; and the Seaford Scramble at Hooper’s Landing that produced $7,000. The Delaware Women’s Golf Association also presented First Tee of Delaware with $10,000, collected from the DWGA’s year-round events. 

In addition, the First Tee benefits from significant in-kind support by eight local courses that make their properties available for First Tee programs without charge. These are American Classic, Bear Trap Dunes, Hooper’s Landing, Kings Creek, Mulligan’s Pointe, Rehoboth Beach CC, The Rookery and Plantation Lakes.

The Fore the Kids online auction benefiting First Tee began Nov. 11 and runs through Dec. 4. For more information, go to firstteedelaware.org.

Some donations come from golf leagues. For example, several dozen Baywood Greens employees played a winter league series that included contributions toward the league’s charity fund. This past winter’s fund raised $1,000 and was donated to two groups. The First Tee of Delaware received $700 to benefit the youth support program. The remaining $300 went to Sonshine Equine Horsemanship and Therapeutic Riding Center in Millsboro.

I joined Bill Schab and about 30 of his friends for a low-key and very fun night golf event Oct. 25 at Bob and Wendy Stenger’s Shamrock Par 3 Golf Course west of Milton. The tournament benefits the Maureen Schab Fund for Education, which provides scholarships for fourth-year students in Delaware Tech’s bachelor’s degree in education program at the community college’s Georgetown campus. Schab said increased donations made it possible for him to increase the number of stipend recipients from four to six. To make a donation, go to https://tglf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1101 or send via mail to Maureen Schab Education Fund, c/o Greater Lewes Foundation, P.O. Box 110, Lewes, DE 19958.

If you have the time or the dime, please consider participating in these or other charity golf events as part of meeting your own charitable goals.