Catholic Charities Golf for Charity Outing Raised $65,000 for Community Programs to Aid People in Need

It was a picture-perfect September day for the annual Catholic Charities Golf for Charity Outing hosted at West Hills Country Club in Middletown. Now in its 18th year, the charitable outing raised more than $65,000 in support of Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster’s mission to provide help and create hope for the most marginalized and vulnerable people in the not-for-profit agency’s tri-county service area.

Goshen resident Tom Larsen, Catholic Charities’ board member and Senior Vice President of Government and Public Relations for Mediacom Communications, served as chairman of the outing planning committee again this year.

“This Golf for Charity outing raises important funds that stay local so Catholic Charities can help our neighbors in need,” said Larsen. “Programs including emergency food and shelter assistance, addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery support, and immigration legal services are making a difference for those who are struggling during difficult times. We are grateful to the golfers, our staff and volunteers, and the West Hills team for a great day of golfing for a cause,” added Larsen.

Mediacom Communications Corp., EPIC Insurance Brokers, and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York led the way as the outing’s top sponsors. Armistead Mechanical sponsored the Golfer Gift that was given to each participant. Other sponsors who added to the outing’s fundraising success included Bonura Hospitality Group, John & Susan Boyle, Skip & Susan Tetz, Chartwell Strategy Group, Webster Bank, Resorts World, Legal Shred, PKF O’Connor Davies, HONORehg, and Steve & Susan Miller. The hole-in-one contest was sponsored by Healey Brothers. Refreshments for the day were provided by Aspire Brewing, DUBCO Brewery, Dana Distributors, IceCapps, ShopRite Supermarkets, PopCorners, and Pepsi of the Hudson Valley.

Prizes were awarded during the post-golf festivities. Winning the top spot for women was the foursome of Brittany Johnson, Irina Negru, Kathy Cole, and Taylor Craig. Earning first place for men, for the second year in a row, was the Chartwell Strategy Group foursome of David Tamasi, Richard Cignarella, Gus Steiger, and Gus Steiger Jr.

Staci Morris and Ryan DeBeauvernet were winners of the longest drive contest, and Young Lee and Brad Euker earned top honors in the closest to the pin contest. All winners received gift certificates to the West Hills Pro Shop.

Thanks to generous donations, golfers went home with an abundance of great raffle items and prizes, including an autographed Jalen Brunson jersey, tickets to the NJ Devils, wine, restaurant gift cards, golf gear, and more.

Shannon Kelly, CEO, Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster, welcomed golfers before the starting shotgun. “Each year, Catholic Charities provides care, hope, and help for thousands of individuals and families, regardless of religion. The generous support from sponsors, tee sign advertisers, golfers, and volunteers that makes the golf outing so successful each year, also makes it possible for us to provide a helping hand to people who are working toward a better quality of life,” added Kelly.

Catholic Charities’ next fundraiser is the annual Goshen Christmas House Tour on Saturday, December 7. Tickets will be on sale this fall at www.cccsos.org or by contacting Kristin Jensen at 845.294.5124, ext. 1005 / kristin.jensen@cccsos.org. Catholic Charities is currently recruiting for houses to be featured on the Tour which will offer INSIDE and OUTSIDE Lights options this year.

Cutline 1: The winning women’s foursome at Catholic Charities 18th annual Golf for Charity Outing included (l-r) Irina Negru, Brittany Johnson, Kathy Cole, and Taylor Craig.

Cutline 2: The winning men’s foursome at Catholic Charities 18th annual Golf for Charity Outing, representing sponsor Chartwell Strategy Group, included (l-r) Gus Steiger Jr., Gus Steiger, Richard Cignarella, and David Tamasi.

Cutline 3: Goshen resident Tom Larsen, Catholic Charities’ board member and Senior Vice President of Government and Public Relations for Mediacom Communications, served as chairman of the Golf for Charity Outing planning committee.