Members of the Grand Harbor Community Outreach Program closed out their fundraising season with an ace during their 18th annual Outreach Charity Golf Classic and 9 Hole Fun Frolic to fund grants distributed to local charities through the philanthropic program.
Returning from a three-year hiatus, golfers happily putted, drove and chipped their way through either 18 holes on the Grand Harbor Pete Dye course or nine holes of the Oak Harbor course, a first for them.
After a long day on the course, golfers rolled up for a novel take on the standard closest to the pin competition, which saw 40 bottles of wine and liquor strategically placed on the putting green behind the clubhouse. Those lucky winners who clinked a bottle with their golf ball took it home to enjoy its contents at their leisure.
“Thank you for participating in this event today and all the other outreach programs during the season. Because of you, we are able to continue our great tradition of transforming lives, strengthening families, and improving the community,” said Jerry Reichert, tournament co-chair with wife Catherine.
Reichert stated that sponsorships from local businesses had covered all of the administrative charges incurred in running the Outreach Program so that: “Every penny that you donate goes to the charities that we support in Indian River County.”
During their annual Awards Breakfast, GHCOP awarded 28 grants to 27 agencies. In addition to $25,000 presented to agencies last fall, more than $400,000 was awarded to local nonprofits this spring, bringing the season’s cumulative disbursement to more than $425,000.
Since its inception 20 years ago, GHCOP has distributed more than $7.5 million to support nonprofits that address unmet needs in the areas of health, education and human services, with a focus on the neighboring Gifford community.
Recognizing that more than half of local residents live below the federal poverty level or are among the working poor, the grants committee this year focused on nonprofits that aid at-risk youth, the homeless and veterans.
This year’s grant recipients included: Alzheimer & Parkinson Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Camp Haven, Childcare Resources of Indian River, Children’s Home Society, Crossover Mission, Economic Opportunities Council, Gifford Youth Achievement Center, Indian River Habitat for Humanity, Indian River Healthy Start Coalition, Hibiscus Children’s Center, Hope for Families Center, Literacy Services of Indian River County, Mental Health Association, Our Father’s Table, Samaritan Center, Senior Resource Association, Special Equestrians of the Treasure Coast, Substance Awareness Center of Indian River County, Sunshine Rehabilitation Center, The Arc of Indian River County, The Learning Alliance, Tykes & Teens, United Against Poverty, Veterans Council of IRC, VNA and Hospice, and Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy.
For more information, visit ghcop.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones
