Walker's 26th Annual Fore the Children Golf Tournament Raises $150,000

DEDHAM, Mass. – On Monday October 5, 2015, Walker, a non-profit leader in special education, behavioral health, and residential treatment for children and youth, hosted its 26th Annual Fore the Children Golf Tournament. The charity event drew 108 golfers to Dedham Country and Polo Club and raised more than $150,000 for the children, youth and families served by Walker’s therapeutic and academic programs.

The Fore the Children Golf Tournament is organized by a volunteer committee of local residents including, Rodney Lukowski of Walpole, Mike McArdle of Wellesley, Michael O’Riordan of Norfolk, Andre Robichaud of Quincy, Deke Schultze of Acton, Paul Shorthose of Needham, Jeff Shute of Woburn, Matthew Siciliano of Needham, and Peter Simone of Wellesley.

“It was fantastic to be joined by a full field of golfers from the Greater Boston Area and MetroWest business community to raise awareness and support for the vulnerable yet resilient children and teens served by Walker’s behavioral health and child welfare programs,” said Susan M. Getman, M.S.W., President and CEO of Walker. “We are so very grateful for the overwhelming support of Walker’s hard-working Golf Committee, our generous sponsors, the enthusiastic players, and our tireless volunteers for making this year’s Fore the Children Golf Tournament one of the most successful ever!”

The 18-hole round of golf was followed by an awards ceremony for top golfers. The First Place Net team included Jack Harrington, Fran Dietrich, Skip Wells, and Gene Takahashi. The First Place Gross team included Doug Gladstone, Jack Garrahan, Tom Kelly, and Brian Leary. On the green, golfers had the opportunity to compete in closest-to-the-pin and longest drive contests, as well as a hole-in-one challenge that had participants shooting for a 1995 Mercedes Benz E320 cabriolet, Callaway Irons (3-PW), a LCD flat-screen TV, or domestic round trip airfare for two.

The post-golf celebration included a silent auction filled with 20 items including football, hockey, and baseball tickets, spa experiences, shopping excursions, autographed sports memorabilia, dining parties and golf packages. Golfers also participated in a raffle for items ranging from ski lift tickets and a Bose® SoundLink® wireless Bluetooth® Speaker III, to gym memberships, dining experiences, and live performances. Players also had the opportunity to compete in a ball-drop competition for a Bushnell Neo XS GPS Golf Watch.

During the awards ceremony, Live Sponsorship opportunities were presented, with players opting to support Walker’s Annual Fund as a $1,000 Camping Sponsor, $500 Outdoor Adventure Sponsor, $250 Athletic Instruction Sponsor, or $100 Sports Equipment Sponsor.

Walker extends our deepest gratitude to all our Fore the Children Golf Tournament sponsors who have helped to make the annual Fore the Children Golf Tournament a success. For the past eight years, Copley Motorcars was the Hole-in-One Sponsor and provided a luxury antique sports car as the signature prize. This year’s Signature Sponsors included Intex Solutions, Inc. and The Thorndike Family. Gold Sponsors included Bank of America, United Benefit Services, and Walmart. Silver Sponsors included Middlesex Savings Bank. Bronze Sponsors included Citizens Bank and Monotype. Corporate Foursome Sponsors included Boston Properties, Bowdoin Construction Corp., C3-Commercial Construction Consulting, Inc., Rubenstein Partners, Leonard, Mulherin & Greene, P.C., Saracen Properties, The Shorthose Family, Pete and De Simone, Stewart Title Company.

Walker will host the 27th Annual Fore the Children Golf Tournament, on Monday, September 26, 2016, at the Weston Golf Club. Upcoming ways to support Walker including helping to spread cheer this holiday season with the Walker Wishes Holiday Toy Drive. Learn more at: walkercares.org/ways-to-give/events.asp

About Walker

Founded in 1961, Walker serves exceptionally vulnerable yet resilient children and youth facing complex social, emotional, behavioral and learning challenges. Walker’s effective evidence-based and innovative therapeutic and academic programs positively impact nearly 20,000 children and youth each year throughout Greater Boston, the North and South Shores, as well as in Central Massachusetts. Through campuses in Needham and Watertown, community-based clinical and youth development services, professional seminars, consultations and out-posted Walker staff in public schools, Walker’s professionals partner with these children and youth, their families and communities to nurture hope, develop lifelong skills, and build their capacity to be successful in their community. To learn more, please visit us at WalkerCares.org or Facebook.com/WalkerCares.