Golf Tournament Raises Money for Individuals on the Autistic Spectrum

For Immediate Release:

VERONA and LIVINGSTON (November 5, 2015) – On Monday, October 6 over 100 golfers gathered at a tournament in support of The Children’s Institute schools in Verona and Livingston, as well as its adult program, the Center for Independence.

The fifth annual Fore the Kids Golf Tournament was held at the Montclair Golf club and raised over $90,000 for programs and services supporting children, adolescents and adults with autism. At the event, golfers had three opportunities to win hole-in-one cars, including a Porsche! Unfortunately for the golfers, there was no hole-in-one car winner that day - but everyone still came away a winner! Students hand decorated photo frames as a way to thank each and every golfer for their support. Students attended the tournament to take photos of each foursome, that were then printed and framed for golfers to take home!

Under the leadership of co-chairs James Hunter of Whippany and Tom Releford of East Hanover and with support from founder Michael Conley of Mendham, a volunteer committee succeeded in bringing together over 100 golfers committed to making a difference for the individuals at TCI. As an added bonus to their game, students from TCI’s High School Film Program captured the golf swings of every participant as they visited the 10th hole, which were shown at the cocktail hour afterwards.

Golfers and guests enjoyed dinner while listening to CBS National Correspondent, Jim Axelrod. The event also featured silent and live auctions, which together raised over $31,000. TCI Executive Director/Superintendent, Bruce Ettinger, thanked golfers and donors for their generous support. The event’s success can be attributed to the event chairs and the volunteer committee, the staff and students at the school, who assisted with preparations, our many corporate and individual donors, as well as the attendees, he said.

TCI wishes to thank our lead sponsor, Takeda, as well as all of our sponsors and participants. Through their generosity, TCI is able to provide the same learning activities and experiences that are provided to students in their local schools, with all of the 21st Century technology, supports and accommodations they need to succeed and offering them “a spectrum of opportunities across a lifetime.”

To learn more about the programs and services offered at The Children’s Institute, please visit www.tcischool.org. For more information regarding the 2016 Fore the Kids Golf Tournament, please contact Diane Berry, Director of Development at TCI at 973.509.3050 ext.237 or dberry@tcischool.org.

About The Children’s Institute (TCI)

For more than 50 years, TCI has been a pioneer in serving individuals with special learning needs. Today, TCI includes two non-profit schools, approved by the New Jersey State Board of Education, which serve children from ages 3-21 on the autism spectrum and with related disabilities, and The Center for Independence, a program for adults over 21, approved by the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities and the NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. TCI is committed to developing the academic, social, behavioral, communication, life and career skills of children, young adults, and adults on the autism spectrum.

For information contact Jennifer Miller, The Children’s Institute Public Information Officer, at jmiller@tcischool.org.