It’s time to hit the greens with the pros! On June 15, the 34th Annual Pro AM Tournament will tee off once again at the Whitemarsh Valley Country Club in Lafayette Hill. The annual two-day tournament teams up Philadelphia Section PGA Professionals and their golf buddies from Variety Children’s Charity to teach children with disabilities some tips of the game and to give them a mentoring relationship with the PGA Pros.
The first day of the tournament consists of teams with professional, amateur and local celebrity golfers competing while raising money for Variety and to win bragging rights among the golfing world. On the second day, the actual competition begins with the PGA Pros taking the stage to complete for the title of the 2010 Variety Children’s Champion.
The most wonderful part of this tournament is that not only is it a multimillion-dollar fundraiser for Variety, but it also allows the children to create strong mentor relationships with the professionals that can help them in the future. Some of the Golf Buddies Alumni consists of Brad Hennefer, the founder of the Golf for life Foundation and Champion Golfer, Amanda McGory, a Special Olympics Gold Medalist, and Matt Lees and Kyle Lograsso, who are both aspiring golfers and media favorites. With alumni of the Variety being so successful, it shows that this type of encouragement and activity can help those who are disabled succeed in athletics.
At the conclusion of the Pro Am, there is a gala and award ceremony that honors someone who has been devoted to the Variety charity, the children and Golf Buddies. This award is the Vincent N. Mariniello Award of Unconditional Love, named after the past President Vincent N. Mariniello who, along with the Philadelphia Section PGA Professionals, developed Gold Buddies and the tournament. The recipient this year is Scott Palmer, Public Affairs Director for the Philadelphia Phillies, has been major contributor to the Golf Buddies program and Variety charity programs.
AroundPhilly Staff
