The sun was shining on the Chester River Health Foundation’s 18th Annual Golf Tournament on Monday, June 4, which raised $95,000 gross—taking a huge chip out of the $400,000 fundraising goal to purchase a leading-edge, 3D digital mammography system for Chester River Hospital’s Radiology Department. The sold-out event, sponsored by The Peoples Bank of Chestertown, hosted 169 golfers and a team of 60 volunteers at the Chester River Yacht & Country Club.
“We are so grateful that so many members of our community and the hospital’s vendors showed their support through generous participation in our event—especially in these challenging economic times,” said Jane Hukill, chairperson, Chester River Health Foundation Board.
No one had success claiming one of the three $10,000 cash prizes sponsored by the hospital’s Medical Staff; Chester River Health’s Vice President of Human Resources, Pat Kuhl and her husband, Joachim Kuhl; and the director of the hospitalist program at Chester River Hospital, Keri Jacobs, MD. The 2012 GMC Terrain SUV, provided by Ramsey Pontiac GMC, also went unclaimed because there wasn’t a lucky “hole-in-one” winner. But,
Wayne Gardner, chairperson of Chester River Health System’s Board of Directors, became the finalist in the $10,000 putting contest sponsored by the Law Offices of C. Daniel Saunders. Gardner’s final 50’ putt kept tournament onlookers breathless for a few, very long seconds, but his shot missed the cup by less than an inch! As a consolation prize, Gardner received a gift certificate for premium golf equipment and apparel.
Over $3,000 in prizes were donated by community businesses and given to the winning teams and champions of the special contests holes. They included:
First Place Low Gross, Men: Denny Scott, Lee Mason, Gary Ennis and Jeff Young of Delmarva Collections: 58
First Place Low Net, Men: Mike Zimmerman, Bob Carroll, Keith Gould and Gary Bigelow of Shore Health: 47
First Place Low Gross, Co-Ed Team: Stu Seitz, Sam Marinelli, Peter Heller and Martha Rasin: 63
First Place Low Gross, Women: Peggy Ross, Wendy Moore, Genie Wootton and Barbara Heck: 80
First Place Low Net, Women: Jane Hukill, Marti Hawkins, Sandy Bjork and Sue Edson: 56
Longest Drive, Men: Roy Owens
Longest Drive, Women: Alice Ryan
Longest Drive, Not in the Fairway, Men: Tom Finn
Longest Drive, Not in the Fairway, Women: Erin Gillespie
Accurate Drive, Men: Alton Darling
Accurate Drive, Women: Sandy Bjork
Hit the Green Raffle: Noel Cervino
Closest to the Pin, First Shot: Chris Endress and Jennifer Butz, hole #3; Alton Darling and Wendy Moore, hole #4; and Jeff Young and Nancy Conner, hole #12
Closest to the Pin, Second Shot: Erin Gillespie, hole #11; and Hank Starkey, hole #18
In addition to more than a hundred local golfers, many participants came from as far as LaPlata, Maryland, New Freedom, Pennsylvania and Baltimore City to support this year’s event. “It’s always a great day of golf for a very worthwhile cause,” said Jeffrey Young, vice president and chief financial officer of Delmarva Collections, Inc., in Salisbury, MD. Young and his team have played in 11 of the 18 annual golf tournaments and this year, took top honors with a gross team score of 58. “This tournament is well worth the trip all the way from Salisbury; we had a great time!”
“The planning committee’s year-long efforts ensured the success of our tournament,” continued Hukill. “The Foundation Board extends a very special thanks to Mary Burton, who chaired the event again this year; to the Chester River Yacht & Country Club who hosted us at its course; and to the nine fellow members of the University of Maryland Medical System that came from all over the state to play in our tournament.”
The team of 60 volunteers greeted all of the golfers upon arrival and made sure that all of the golfers had fun on the green. Each volunteer, many of whom were Chester River Health System employees and Auxiliary members, received a custom-embroidered shirt as a “thank you” gift and were treated to a complimentary barbeque-themed lunch, sponsored by Jim Ross, CEO, Chester River Health System and his wife, Peggy Ross. “Volunteers are the backbone of this event; we simply could not have it without them,” remarked Maryann Ruehrmund, executive director of the Chester River Health Foundation. “We are so grateful to all of our volunteers because they are the reason our golfers had such a good time,” Ruehrmund continued.
Many local businesses and individuals, as well as the Chester River Yacht & Country Club, supported the tournament with sponsorships and prizes. The golfers’ lunch was sponsored by Kernan Orthopedics & Rehabilitation and CR Goodman Architects, while the University of Maryland Medical Center was the event’s Gold Sponsor. Local businesses, Ray Brilz Painting of Rock Hall and Rasp Electric of Kennedyville, sponsored the 36 custom-made trophies for the event. Rita’s Italian Ice also provided a refreshment station at the 16th tee, where golfers enjoyed a specially-created, pink strawberry water ice, in honor of breast cancer awareness. Steve Eisemann, director of the hospital’s inpatient services, and his wife, Lisa Eisemann, RN, sponsored beverages along the course for all of the golfers to enjoy.
“Because Kent County has such a high incidence of breast cancer—25% higher than the national average—the golf tournament was a critical component of our 18-month fundraising effort for the 3D digital mammography equipment,” Hukill continued. “It’s amazing that to date, we’ve received $224,953 of the $400,000 needed! No other health care facility on the Delmarva Peninsula has this technology yet; Chester River Hospital will be the first!”
For more information about next year’s tournament or to make a donation to help the hospital purchase the state-of-the-art, 3D mammography system, please contact Maryann Ruehrmund at 410-810-5660 or by email at [email protected].
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