ORLANDO, Fla. – The golf gods were smiling down on the 148 players that filled the sold-out field for the GOLFUNITED Fore Pulse Charity Scramble that took place on the New Course at Grand Cypress Golf Club August 26. High puffy clouds, a steady breeze and beautifully manicured greens provided perfect conditions for the event that raised more than $36,000 benefiting the OneOrlando and Pulse of Orlando funds. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go directly to support the 49 victims, survivors and their families impacted by the horrific shooting at the Pulse nightclub in downtown Orlando June 12, 2016.
The city of Orlando’s Mayor Buddy Dyer provided the opening remarks prior to the tournament start. In the wake of the horrible tragedy, Mayor Dyer stated that the city of Orlando had become defined by how the community responded then and continues to respond with events like the GOLFUNITED Fore PULSE Charity tournament. “I’m very proud of our community and couldn’t be even more proud today,” Dyer said. “We responded with love, compassion and community.”
First Responders, Officer Luke Austin and his partner Joseph Imburgio, of the Orlando Police Department, welcomed the opportunity to greet the GOLFUNITED players and to thank the community for its ongoing unified support. “It’s a proud moment for us to be here and to represent the City of Orlando Police Department and this event and the way the community has come together, said Austin.”
GOLFUNITED was formed by a group of five passionate Orlando golf industry professionals who came together shortly after the tragedy with the mission that ALL lives matter and a commitment to make a difference for the victims of the Pulse tragedy that shockingly had happened right in their own backyard.
Local as well as national golf companies and other businesses responded immediately offering in-kind services, sponsorships, silent auction items, and other donations. In a combined act of extraordinary generosity Grand Cypress Golf Club donated the golf course fees and the Villas of Grand Cypress donated the hospitality for the lunch and awards party.
“The Pulse tragedy impacted so many individuals and families in our community including our management and employees,” said Robert Scott, Tournament Director for Grand Cypress Golf Club and member of the GOLFUNITED founding committee. “Golf is a game that transcends – it doesn’t care whom you are when you stand on that tee box. Being a PGA professional, it made complete sense for our ownership, resort and golf operations team to be there and support our community through a game that we love.”
GOLFUNITED is continuing its donation efforts and corporate outreach for several more weeks. Donations can be made securely online at www.golfunited.org. All donations will be equally distributed between Pulse of Orlando and OneOrlando Fund, both 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.
“GOLFUNITED put on an incredible event, one that brought our entire community out for a great cause,” said Aly N. Benitez, JD, MBA and Founder/Board President of Pulse of Orlando, Inc. “Pulse of Orlando Fund is grateful to the event committee, all sponsors and participants. The funds raised are going directly to survivors and victims’ families of the Pulse tragedy,”
ABOUT GOLF UNITED
GOLFUNITED was formed by a group of golf industry professionals in Orlando, Fla. who are passionate and dedicated to making a difference in the wake of the Pulse nightclub tragedy of June 12, 2016. The Orlando shooting at Pulse was the deadliest terrorist attack in the United States since Sept. 11, 2001. The founding committee members include: Josh Broeker, President Ready Golf League; Mary Dees, formerly with Golfweek and owner, Rapid Estate Liquidators; Holly “G” Geoghegan, President Golf Marketing Services and Host/Producer of the Golf Insiders radio show; Paula Keyes, President, Paula Keyes and Associates; Will Perry, President of EVVUS; and Robert A. Scott, PGA, 1st Assistant/Tournament Director, Grand Cypress Golf Club. For more information, or to donate, go to www.GolfUnited.org.
ABOUT ONEORLANDO FUND
Following the horrific tragedy at Pulse, there was a tremendous outpouring from the community seeking to provide financial support. In response, the OneOrlando Fund was set up by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and is a project within Strengthen Orlando, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation previously established by the City of Orlando. Equality Florida, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida (The Center) and the National Compassion Fund created a partnership with OneOrlando to ensure that funds collected are disbursed in a unified process. For more information, go to www.oneorlandofund.org.
ABOUT PULSE OF ORLANDO FUND
Pulse of Orlando is a locally focused grassroots 501(c)(3) non?profit organization created to reach out with expeditious allocation of funds for those surviving victims affected; to recover through local survivor navigation; and to rebuild a united Orlando community. Pulse of Orlando is endorsed by Pulse ownership and the globally focused onePULSEFOUNDATION. For more information, go to www.pulseoforlando.org.
Contact:
GOLFUNITED CONTACT:
Holly Geoghegan, President
Golf Marketing Services
holly@golfmarketinginc.com
321?303?9684
