Golfing to Support Children and Adults with Special Needs

When other charity golf tournaments lost their momentum, The Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Classic to benefit Melmark only grew stronger. The Classic has already raised more than $3M for children and adults served by Melmark. Now in its tenth year, organizers are planning a push to make the event bigger than ever. Those organizers, a who’s who list of C-level leaders in the Life Sciences Industry, are the reason behind the longevity of this powerhouse fundraiser.

The Schoemaker Classic Advisory Board is led by Co-Chairs, Jim Eaton, Senior VP of NAI Geis Realty, Shawn P. O’Brien, CEO of Cipher Pharmaceuticals and Denny Willson, Chairman and CEO of Hsiri Therapeutics, LLC.  The three work with an incredibly talented and dedicated network of professionals to organize this event, which was founded in 2006 by Lee Ahrensdorf, President of Ahrensdorf and Associates, in memory of the late Hubert J.P. Schoemaker. Schoemaker was a leader and advocate in the region’s life sciences community and founder of Centocor.  Schoemaker, whose eldest daughter lived at Melmark for 28 years, was well known for giving back to the community, especially to children and adults with special needs.

Eaton, O’Brien and Willson say they are proud to raise funds for Melmark in memory of Schoemaker and are fortunate to have the support of such a compassionate and energetic group. “We work with professionals who have dedicated their careers to improving the lives of others,” said Jim Eaton. “They are continuing to give back through the Classic.” O’Brien added, “This tournament is not just a social event for members of the Life Sciences community. It’s our way of supporting an organization doing remarkable things for individuals and their families.” Willson say his involvement with the Classic has brought great joy to his life, as well as to the lives of his colleagues in the pharmaceuticals field. “What we put into this event, we get back one hundred fold,” said Willson. “To see the joy on the faces of the children and adults at Melmark, that is why we do this.”

On Monday, October 5, 2015, this trio of business leaders, whose work spans the globe, will gather with nearly 300 of their colleagues for the 10th Annual Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Classic with Title Sponsor, Accenture, to raise funds for Melmark, a non-profit that is dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults diagnosed with intellectual disabilities and autism. Melmark is based in Berwyn, PA and provides residential, educational, vocational and therapeutic services for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injuries and other neurological and genetic disorders.

The Schoemaker Classic includes a day of golf on one of three premier courses: Waynesborough Country Club, St. Davids Golf Club and Gulph Mills Golf Club. Golf is followed by a cocktail reception, silent auction and dinner, with a live auction, all at Waynesborough.

“The Schoemaker Classic significantly impacts the work we do at Melmark,” said Joanne Gillis-Donovan, Ph.D., President and CEO of Melmark. “With the tools made possible by the proceeds from this event, our staff is giving children and adults opportunities many of their families thought they’d never have. We cannot begin to express our gratitude for the generous, long-term support our organization receives from Hubert’s family, friends and colleagues.”

Funds raised by this annual event have supported many wide-ranging projects and services at Melmark, including:

State-of-the-art program areas to teach life and job skills to adults with intellectual disabilities

Additional classrooms, providing technology and innovative opportunities for education programs

A multi-purpose center with a full-size gymnasium for physical therapy and recreation, as well as a performing arts stage

Program support for education, vocational training and adult services

For more information about how you can be a part of this event, visit www.schoemakerclassic.com