Birdies and eagles took flight on a gorgeous May morning at the Moorings Yacht & Country Club golf course during the 2022 Golf-A-Thon to benefit the VNA and Hospice Foundation.
Golf pros from 13 local clubs played an impressive 135 holes in a single day and, before heading into the clubhouse, swung one last time during a VNA Shoot Out.
“What I admire most about everybody in this room is their devotion to the VNA,” said Kathie Pierce, VNA board chair, thanking the pros and volunteers for their efforts. “This Golf-A-Thon is our sole fundraiser, and all of the money we raise from this goes for charity care.”
Founded more than 40 years ago to help improve the quality of life for patients in need, regardless of their financial resources, the VNA & Hospice Foundation funds bereavement support, the Camp Chrysalis children’s bereavement retreat, Hospice House, music therapy, remote patient monitoring, community wellness and a mobile health clinic.
Pierce said she got involved with the VNA, because it provides home health and hospice care to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. She said she believes that every single person deserves to have quality care, adding that the type of care the VNA offers her should be no different from that given to a charity patient.
Volunteers from the pros’ respective clubs had solicited funds from supporters so that with each swing of their clubs, the golf pros could raise funds to support the mission of the nonprofit. At the end of the day, more than $467,000 was raised to ensure that everyone has access to compassionate care.
“It’s always a pleasure to host an event like this,” said tournament pro host Bob Gruber of the Moorings Club. “We know how much VNA Hospice means to our county and what you all do for everybody.”
This year Gruber hosted fellow pros Matthew Challenor, Windsor Golf Club; David Champagne, Orchid Island Golf Club; Drew DiSesa, Riomar Country Club; Pat Gorman, Bent Pine Golf Club; Randy Hedgecock, Vero Beach Country Club; Steve Hudson, John’s Island Golf Club; Ian Killen, Indian River Club; Don Meadows, Quail Valley Golf Club; Frank Mentzer, Oak Harbor Golf Club; Bela Nagy, Sandridge Golf Club; Troy Pare, Grand Harbor Golf Club; and Ryan Zug, Pointe West Country Club.
Steve Hudson and Troy Pare were the overall tournament winners, with 66 birdies and eagles, and in the post-game shootout, Matthew Challenor took first place and Don Meadows came in second.
“We’re just so pleased that you are so committed to wanting to take care of the people in our community who desperately need us,” said Lundy Fields, VNA president and CEO.
“Today, we’re taking care of over 1,000 people in the community. Because of the commitment and the gifts and the dedication from the people in this room, we can all come together as a big team to take care of the most vulnerable people in this county.”
He said their goal is to ensure that patients have optimal quality of care, and that they experience optimal quality of life, whether that be end-of-life care or assistance after being released from the hospital post-surgery.
For more information, visit vnatc.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones
