thedrifter
08-09-09, 08:01 AM
CAMP PENDLETON: Golf tourney nets $26,000 for injured Marines
LESLIE CARTER - For the North County Times | Posted: Sunday, August 9, 2009 2:05 am |
About half of the 144 players in the Purple Heart Golf Tournament at Camp Pendleton on June 19 finished the day lounging on the deck at the Marine Memorial Golf Course enjoying after-dinner cigars.
They were there to share in a casual but hearty dinner, scout out the silent auction, be in the thick of the live auction, and enjoy the fruits of the opportunity drawing. Over the course of the day, $26,000 was raised for injured Marines, $6,000 more than was raised at last year's tournament.
They were also there to support the efforts of Stewart Navarre, a retired colonel based at Camp Pendleton, and Elias Alawi, co-founders of the Purple Heart Fund.
The Purple Heart Golf Tournament series began in 2006 when the two friends, Navarre and Alawi, formed a partnership. To date, they have raised $50,000, and much of it has gone to their major beneficiary, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
The fund has been raising money since 2003 to help injured Marines face the challenges of daily life at home with rapid, uncomplicated assistance. The first official donation was from the Lighthouse Christian Church in Oceanside.
One of the notable live auction items was attendance at a filming of an Afghan War simulation training film at the Stu Segal Studios in San Diego. Segal produces these films using Afghan-American actors in actual situations that the Marines will face overseas. Lunch at the Stu Segal Diner was included. The event was sold twice for $500.
Three members of the Chosin Few from the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in 1950 ---- Bob Anderson, Bob Winders and Frank Torres ---- came to the event. They are survivors of the Korean War siege near the Chinese border, and represent a branch of their organization from Orange County.
Ten gents wearing red golf shirts at the event were the Purple Heart awardees, Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton after having been wounded. There also were amputees out on the course, playing in the tournament, said course pro Doug Blanchard.
Donors and sponsors who made significant contributions toward the event's beneficiaries were Jack and Gayle Scanlon, and Verizon Wireless.
Next year, the tournament will have two sections, one in the morning, another in the afternoon.
There will be another fundraiser on Oct. 19. It will be another golf tournament at Bella Collina Golf Course in San Clemente.
Some of those enjoying the event were Don Robbins, Glenn Ankton, Dave and Karen Tuttle, Sherry Newtols, Reni and Joel Vidovich, J.B. Hume, Mike Kelly, Guy Dove, Mark Schuler, Brad Logan, Steve Tullgren, John Iraci, Joe Snyder, Hutch Parker, Matt Ward, David Black, and Kevin Draucker.
Also found at dinner were Cindy McAfee, Cody McAfee, Steve McAfee, Patrick Nishioka, Mike Mullane, Corey Kerr, T.J. Forsyth , Connie Vaughan, Sean Bovenizer, Dean Heiser, Van Tuck, John Bovenizer, Jim Baker, David Martin, Neal Davis, and Alan Edwards.
Other supporters of the Purple Heart Foundation were Marty Schafer, Robin Schafer, Lorre Burt, Raleigh Burt, Chip Burt, Billy Lockhart, Mike Kartsonis, Ron Matthews, Paul Jensen, Davey Lind, Wendy Lethin, Zach Navarre, William Costello, Bob Anderson, Bob Winders, Frank Torres, Kay Owens, Teresa Costantino, Sandi Fiero, Marsha Andrews, John Gallucci, Mike Kartsonis, John Dorsey, Elias Alawi, Chris Higgins, Bob Sopko, Mark Dawson, Walter Knack, Karen O'Brien, Erin O'Brien and Chris Abner.
Ellie
LESLIE CARTER - For the North County Times | Posted: Sunday, August 9, 2009 2:05 am |
About half of the 144 players in the Purple Heart Golf Tournament at Camp Pendleton on June 19 finished the day lounging on the deck at the Marine Memorial Golf Course enjoying after-dinner cigars.
They were there to share in a casual but hearty dinner, scout out the silent auction, be in the thick of the live auction, and enjoy the fruits of the opportunity drawing. Over the course of the day, $26,000 was raised for injured Marines, $6,000 more than was raised at last year's tournament.
They were also there to support the efforts of Stewart Navarre, a retired colonel based at Camp Pendleton, and Elias Alawi, co-founders of the Purple Heart Fund.
The Purple Heart Golf Tournament series began in 2006 when the two friends, Navarre and Alawi, formed a partnership. To date, they have raised $50,000, and much of it has gone to their major beneficiary, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
The fund has been raising money since 2003 to help injured Marines face the challenges of daily life at home with rapid, uncomplicated assistance. The first official donation was from the Lighthouse Christian Church in Oceanside.
One of the notable live auction items was attendance at a filming of an Afghan War simulation training film at the Stu Segal Studios in San Diego. Segal produces these films using Afghan-American actors in actual situations that the Marines will face overseas. Lunch at the Stu Segal Diner was included. The event was sold twice for $500.
Three members of the Chosin Few from the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in 1950 ---- Bob Anderson, Bob Winders and Frank Torres ---- came to the event. They are survivors of the Korean War siege near the Chinese border, and represent a branch of their organization from Orange County.
Ten gents wearing red golf shirts at the event were the Purple Heart awardees, Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton after having been wounded. There also were amputees out on the course, playing in the tournament, said course pro Doug Blanchard.
Donors and sponsors who made significant contributions toward the event's beneficiaries were Jack and Gayle Scanlon, and Verizon Wireless.
Next year, the tournament will have two sections, one in the morning, another in the afternoon.
There will be another fundraiser on Oct. 19. It will be another golf tournament at Bella Collina Golf Course in San Clemente.
Some of those enjoying the event were Don Robbins, Glenn Ankton, Dave and Karen Tuttle, Sherry Newtols, Reni and Joel Vidovich, J.B. Hume, Mike Kelly, Guy Dove, Mark Schuler, Brad Logan, Steve Tullgren, John Iraci, Joe Snyder, Hutch Parker, Matt Ward, David Black, and Kevin Draucker.
Also found at dinner were Cindy McAfee, Cody McAfee, Steve McAfee, Patrick Nishioka, Mike Mullane, Corey Kerr, T.J. Forsyth , Connie Vaughan, Sean Bovenizer, Dean Heiser, Van Tuck, John Bovenizer, Jim Baker, David Martin, Neal Davis, and Alan Edwards.
Other supporters of the Purple Heart Foundation were Marty Schafer, Robin Schafer, Lorre Burt, Raleigh Burt, Chip Burt, Billy Lockhart, Mike Kartsonis, Ron Matthews, Paul Jensen, Davey Lind, Wendy Lethin, Zach Navarre, William Costello, Bob Anderson, Bob Winders, Frank Torres, Kay Owens, Teresa Costantino, Sandi Fiero, Marsha Andrews, John Gallucci, Mike Kartsonis, John Dorsey, Elias Alawi, Chris Higgins, Bob Sopko, Mark Dawson, Walter Knack, Karen O'Brien, Erin O'Brien and Chris Abner.
Ellie