Rotary Golf Outing Raises $26K For Newtown’s Pickering Manor

NEWTOWN, PA — The Newtown Rotary Club on May 3 presented its largest check to date to Pickering Manor with a donation of $26,000 to the nonprofit, community run senior living facility.

Club president Mick Petrucci joined golf committee chairs Tony Petsis and Paul Salvatore and members of the committee in presenting a check to Pickering’s executive director, David Woodhead, during a special luncheon meeting hosted by Pickering Manor.

The money was raised by the club during its 2022 golf outing held at the Trenton Country Club. The outing is the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year and has earmarked the proceeds exclusively to Pickering, a nonprofit retirement community owned and operated by the community.

“It is an absolute pleasure and honor to help such a wonderful organization such as Pickering Manor, which is a staple in our community. We’re proud to be involved and to support their efforts,” said Petrucci.

“There’s a long history between Rotary and Pickering Manor dating back to when they opened 60 years ago. And we are beyond pleased to bring back the golf outing this year,” he said noting that the event is the club’s single biggest fundraiser organized by the club.

Over the past 30 years, the club has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Pickering, which provides Independent Living, Personal Care, Rehabilitation, Skilled Nursing and Memory Care options to its clients.

This year’s check for $26,000 will be used to purchase three Hoyer lifts for residents who need assistance getting into and out of bed, according to Woodhead.

“Having these [Hoyer] lifts is crucial," said Woodhead. "They can greatly reduce the amount of strain experienced by both the staff and residents. It can also provide a sense of independence for the resident.”

According to Salvatore, the goal this year is to surpass the $26,000 raised at last year's outing.

“And I think we can do it," said Salvatore. "We are headed in the right direction. We need sponsors. We need golfers. We need prizes and we need hole sponsors.”

This year the committee has continued to expand its reach to include the addition of more community members on the golf committee, which has energized the planning process with new ideas.

Each committee member is charged with securing one foursome and two sponsors for the outing. "With a committee of 18 that equates to 36 sponsorships, which is a good start to a successful event," said Petsis.

“When you see that $26,000 number that means a heck of a lot more than what you think,” said Petsis. “That’s a credit to the club. And I’m just amazed at the response we get not just from the club, but from the community.”

Petsis also praised Pickering Manor for its service and dedication to the people of Newtown and beyond. “Pickering is the number one retirement home in this area. And that is a big deal. And that happens because of community involvement, community support, a great staff and great leaders. Here’s our chance to shine and do something really nice for Pickering Manor,” he said of the golf outing.

To thank the club for its ongoing support, Pickering’s staff treated club members to a complimentary luncheon.

“Our partnership with the Rotary Golf Outing has been spectacular for us and our residents," said Woodhead. "The Rotary’s support and commitment of ‘service above self’ truly impacts our residents lives every day. We are extremely appreciative and beyond grateful for their support.”

Previous donations have benefited the manor’s memory care wing and have purchased a “Big Sky” window for its dedicated memory care unit.

This year’s golf outing, which tees-off on Monday, June 12 at the Trenton Country Club on Sullivan Way in West Trenton, New Jersey, will help fund the purchase of furnishings for a community center being created on the first floor of the manor house for its independent living residents.

The outing begins with a 10 a.m. shot gun start “so you’ll be home by 5 p.m.,” said Petsis. “We will have great prizes. Anyone who has played in it before or have had dinner at the Trenton Country Club it’s a treat.”

The outing includes breakfast, golf, lunch, cocktails, a silent auction and prizes. The day begins with registration and a full breakfast at 8:30 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at 10 a.m., cocktails, lunch and a silent auction at 2 p.m. and awards at 3 p.m.

The cost is $1300 per foursome, which includes greens fees, cart, cocktails and meals. The cost is $40 for breakfast only and $80 for lunch only.

Heading up the drive to secure sponsorships for the outing is Kevin Brooks from Johnson Kendall Johnson.

“There are plenty of ways to get involved,” he said. “There are big sponsorships and there are small sponsorships. We’re also going to need help the day of. It’s a worthy cause that you can get behind and understand.”

To register and for more information, visit https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E92861&id=40

If you are interested in being a sponsor or donating an item or basket, email salvatorepaul@hotmail.com for more information.

Salvatore said the club is in need of community volunteers on the day of the golf outing to help in the morning prior to tee-off, to watch cars during the outing and to help with the silent auction.