Chester River Health Foundation to Host 20th Annual Golf Tournament In Memory of Tournament Co-Founder

he 20th annual UM Chester River Health Foundation Golf Tournament will be held in memory of Edward M. Athey, the tournament’s co-founder.

When nearly 200 golfers tee off at the annual University of Maryland Chester River Heath Foundation tournament on Friday, May 30, they’ll be playing for prizes and pride, but they’ll also be raising money for brand new intravenous (IV) pumps, enough for every bedside and every department, at the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown. This year’s tournament is being held in memory of Edward M. Athey, the Chestertown businessman and sportsman.

“We wanted to do something very special to commemorate this year’s 20th anniversary tournament,” said Maryann Ruehrmund, CFRE, executive director of the UM Chester River Health Foundation, the fundraising arm of the local hospital. She said the tournament’s other co-founder, C. Daniel Saunders, suggested naming the event in Ed Athey’s memory.

“It was the perfect idea,” Ruehrmund said, explaining that tournament proceeds are always earmarked for the highest priority equipment or program at the hospital. “We wanted to go above and beyond this year because of our 20th anniversary, and celebrating in honor of Ed’s contributions to the event as well as our community, made tremendous sense.”

The Edward M. Athey Memorial Golf Tournament is being sponsored by Ed Athey’s extended family, the Harms and Athey families and Green Point Farms, continuing a family tradition of support for the hospital that got its start many years ago when it was called Kent and Queen Anne’s Hospital.

The son of Edward L. Athey, Washington College’s long-time athletic director and coach, Ed (Edward M.) Athey, served on the hospital’s board of directors for nine years and then became a founder of the Chester River Health Foundation. He served on the Foundation board from 1993 until 2003 but remained the co-chair of the golf tournament until his death.

Mr. Athey was president and CEO of the FAM&M Insurance agency, served as Judge of the Orphans Court for Kent County and served on the boards of Chesapeake Bank & Trust and Chestertown Bank. He also was president of Chester River Yacht and Country Club, Washington College Alumni Association and the Chestertown Lions Club.

“Ed Athey was a man of commitment, a leader in the community, and a strong believer in public service and philanthropy,” said George Harms, a family friend and father-in-law to one of Athey’s daughters. “The hospital and our community are a better place because of his dedication, vision and hard work.”

For the second year in a row, the Foundation’s golf tournament will be played at Queenstown Harbor on the 18-hole River Course, which borders the Chester River.

“I’ve played golf since I was a teenager, and I’ve never played a more spectacular course,” said Margie Elsberg, chair of the UM Chester River Health Foundation’s board of directors. “Those two holes along the river are breathtaking. It’s a great place to play golf, and a great way to raise lots of money for an important cause.”

Tournament foursomes—the tournament is limited to 200 players—will have their choice of 8:00 am or 1:30 pm shotgun starts, and lunch will be available for both morning and afternoon golfers. Sponsors have already begun signing up to underwrite the costs of the event and to sponsor a wide array of prizes: $10,000 cash for the putting contest (half to the winner and half to the Foundation); $10,000 cash for a hole in one on three of the par three holes; and a GMC Terrain SUV from Ramsey GMC for a hole in one on the fourth par three.

The Peoples Bank is sponsoring the post-tournament reception and dinner, when prizes will be awarded. CR Goodman Associates, the architectural firm that designed UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown’s new main entrance, lobby and soon-to-be-completed expanded Emergency Department, is sponsoring lunch for the afternoon golfers. University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s interim chief operating officer, Jim Ross, and his wife, Peggy, are sponsoring lunch for tournament volunteers; Chestertown attorney and tournament co-founder Dan Saunders is sponsoring the putting contest; Queenstown Bank is sponsoring all first place team prizes; and RASP Electric is once again sponsoring all second place team prizes.

Additional sponsorships ranging from $100 to $3,500 are still available, as are sponsorships for in-kind prizes for closest to the pin, longest and most accurate drives; and pro shop gift certificates for men’s and women’s teams that win first and second low gross and low net honors. Additionally, the Foundation has Maryland State Tax Credits available for Maryland residents and businesses that sponsor the tournament at the $1,000 level and above.

“In 19 years, the tournament has raised nearly $1,505,400,” said Ruehrmund. “Our wonderful community and vendors have helped the hospital buy 3D digital mammography equipment, new inpatient beds, surgical equipment for the operating room, a 16-station digital vital signs monitoring system for the Emergency Department, and it’s paying for some of the Emergency Department construction that’s going on right now. This tournament does great things, for sure.”

For more information about participating in or sponsoring the upcoming golf tournament, contact UM Chester River Health Foundation at (410) 810-5661 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. Additional information about the Foundation, the tournament or services available throughout Shore Regional Health can be obtained at www.chesterriverhealth.org.