Hillside hosts fundraiser for Lonnie Cohen Scholarship
There are few places that the late, former Hillside director Lonnie Cohen loved more than being out on a golf course. So, when current Hillside RC leader Brielle Harvey was looking for a theme to host a fundraising event to establish a Lonnie Cohen Memorial Scholarship Fund, the golf angle seemed like a surefire way to go.
And so the “Mini Masters” was hatched to bring people back to Hillside a year after the biggerthan-life Cohen died suddenly to continue to celebrate his legacy through the scholarship fund. The proceeds of the fund will offer financial assistance to youngsters across the city in the Parks & Recreation’s Youth Soccer Program. Cohen was a prime mover in creating opportunities for kids in all things soccer during his impactful career in Park Recreation.
Harvey, along with Hillside Supervisor Gina Batavick and the rest of Hillside staff pulled out all the stops in turning Hillside into a virtual Augusta Country Club for the golf-flavored lollapalooza. Members of the Hillside Advisory Council also pitched in to support by securing raffle donations and volunteering their services at the memorable event.
There was a nine hole minigolf circuit courtesy of the good folks Portable Putt Putt Mini Golf Rental, not to be outdone by an inflatable contraption that was generously donated by our friends at Beanie Bounce Party Rentals. The final theme-related challenge was a floating target sitting in the middle of the Hillside swimming pool.
The soft pretzels and donated Rita’s water ice certainly hit the spot on a hot summer evening and were a perfect companion to the golf themed activities.
Benefactors were given an opportunity to sponsor one of the mini golf holes at various price ranges which brought in a nice chunk of change or taking a chance on one of the several raffle baskets stuffed with goodies that were donated from a slew of vendors and well-wishers from in and out of our community. Some of more eye-catching sports packages came from the Phillies, Eagles, and Phila. Union.
My bid on an autographed football from the Eagles Miles Sanders was, alas, unsuccessful.
Among the scores of people who attended were several members of Cohen’s extended family including his sister Jodi CohenLevine and brother-in-law Neil Levine, plus a host of Cohen’s friends and former colleagues, all with the intent of honoring a man who had given so much during his heralded life. The $3,000 raised is but a small token of appreciation that will benefit countless young PPR players going forward through the Lonnie Cohen Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Brielle Harvey could barely contain her indebtedness on the Hillside web page gushing “wow…there are not enough “thank yous” that can express our full gratitude to everyone who had a part in the Mini Masters fundraiser.