PHILANTHROPIC NOPGA MEMBERS RESPOND AGAIN, RAISING MONEY FOR NOPGA FOUNDATION
Over 60 members of the Northern Ohio Section of the Professional Golfers Association and the J.M. Smucker Co. combined to raise over $139,000 on Monday during the 5th Smucker’s Birdies & Charity event at Portage Country Club.
While the final tally will not be official for several weeks, the fund-raiser will assuredly raise the Foundation’s charitable accumulative contribution to well over the $500,000 mark, with Smucker’s providing the initial impetus with a $10,000 donation. A satellite event at Mayfield/Sand Ridge and a planned Toledo Chapter Birdies & Charity at Stone Oak next month will increase it even more.
Professional golf has had a long-standing tradition of giving back to the community. The NOPGA members validated that practice on Monday. NOPGA Foundation Director Danielle Monas calculated the total number of birdies at 838. Pledges from Kirtland Country Club members totaled $29,029.
All proceeds will go to the NOPGA Foundation and the six charities it supports.
The area professionals solicited pledges from the memberships of their respective clubs several weeks ago to award them for the number of birdies they could make over 72 holes, or more if the pros so chose.
Congress Lake Club General Manager Jason Nussbaum made 38 birdies to top the field, and Portage Country Club Head Professional Adam Lewicki added 31. Joe Meglen, Director of Player Development at Stonewater Golf Club, was next with 30 birdies. The play of Chagrin Valley Country Club Lead Assistant professional Josh Diemer and his team accounted for $10,320, while Westwood Country Club Director of Instruction Chris Knevel and company generated $9,435.
