Plastic ducks drop and golfers deliver $400K to charity

Thethird time proved to be the charm for the BocaWestChildren’sFoundation’s eighth annual

$100,000 Golf Challenge as it raised $400,000for charity.

Thegolf challenge, whichwas originally scheduled forMarch

30 andwas postponed due to

theCOVID-19 pandemic, was then slated forNov. 8-9 but again moved because of inclement weather stemmingfromTropical StormEta.

PamWeinroth, the foundation’s executive director, said at the first postponement the golf department gave herNovember options for the reschedule— Nov. 8 and 9 — along withNov. 22.

“Because golf hadn’thad its resurgence back inMarch,” Weinroth said, “I picked [Nov. 8 and

9] because I thought theNov. 22 (date) might be an issue because of Thanksgiving. Whowould have thought a hurricane inNovember?

“I guess it just sums up 2020,” she said.“Wewere concerned a little a fewdays out because itwas showing rain for [Nov. 22].”

Sunny skies greeted the 76 membersof BocaWestwhowere able to get their round in onNov.

22. TheGolf Challenge also kept participants safe and socially distanced.

Theremaining golferswhohad signed up, over 400more, will be able to play anytime on non-seasonal times and still be afforded most of the same perks, including lunch and dinner for the fundraiser for the foundation’s 31 participating children’s charity partners.

“Wewere (postponed) twice before, but it is very special,” said BocaWest resident and club memberBob Lerner, 73, who has lived in the community since 1993. “We do a lot of good and a lot of children depend on it, and it makes us feel very good to be able to do this.”

Lerner said he and the other membersare justhappy tohelp in many fundraising endeavors.

“I thinkmost of the members still pinch themselveswhen they comethrough the gates, and they feel very, very fortunate where they are in a position wherewe can share that,” he said.“We like to do that and itmakes us feel good.”

Likemost charity golf tournaments, therewere hot dogs and hamburgers on the course, but therewere also lobster rolls and French dip sandwiches.

“It’s not about the food,” Lerner

Over700 plastic ducks are dropped on the green during the golf tournament that benefits at BocaWest Country Club onNov. 22. The funds fromthe event benefit the BocaWest Children’s Foundation’s 31 children’s charities.

said, laughing. “Themore I eat, theworse Ihit the ball…What can I say? They do a very nice job. They don’t have to do anything and peoplewould still comeout to give to the charity.”

Earlier this year, the foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary and the granting of overthe $10million for projects that serve at-risk youth. The total amount raised through the annual golf

challenges through the years is

$5.3 million, including $258,000 in its first year. The $400,00raised this yearwas similar to last year’s total.

Oneof the fundraising tools at the GolfChallenge included

750 plastic ducks dropped froma crane. Every duckwas purchased for $50 andwhoeverhad the winning duckwon $2,500. This year’s winnerwas Michael

Turetzky. The restwent to raise funds.

Weinroth noted that of the

$650thateachgolferpaidtoplay,

$500 of itwas going toward a charity. Each charity will receive between $2,000and $10,000, depending on its team’s placement.

“Many of our charity partners have had to cancel their fundraisers this year and our golf challenge will serve as fundraisers for each of our participating children’s nonprofits,” she said.“We are delighted to offer this fundraising platform for these charities.

“We gave the charities the option to use our golf tournament as their golf tournament,” Weinroth said. “They could advertise it as theirs and if they collected themoneywewould give them back $2,000 for every foursome that theywould bring. If they got a sponsor, wewould give themback themoney.”

Players received breakfast in addition to lunch, a golf gift valued at about $150, which could have been a putter, awedge or a Bushnell speaker thatwould fit on their golf cart, golf balls andMaui sunglasses. They also received a hat, shirt, towel and amask.

Visit bocawestfoundation.org/.