Time To Give Back is the theme of this year’s St Jude Golf Tournament and this year’s event is bigger than ever.
Round 2 of the event took place Friday with the first round having being played this past Sunday.
Bob Ziarko, chairman of the St Jude Golf Tournament was pleased with the turnout. “We have over 300 golfers and 150 volunteers this year,” he said. ” These volunteers are what makes this event happen, We couldn’t do it without them.”
Ziarko received a donation from The Villages Cheerleaders for $200 for St Jude while being interviewed.
“See?” he said. “It’s people and groups like this that make all this possible. We have over 100 sponsors.”
A special place to reflect on what St Jude’s means to children and their families is the Circle of Hope, which was set up in the flower garden by the putting green. It consists of posters made by St Jude’s patients using every letter of the alphabet. Each poster is a personal story written by each child dealing with cancer on a daily basis.
Barbara Blanc of the Village of Springdale was touched by each story.
“It’s the story of each child’s cancer through their eyes.” she said.
Last week’s Round 1 event saw a hole in one shot made by Ken Suchy.
This is the third year for the event. Last year’s tournament raised more than $137,000 for the kids of St Jude. This year, Ziarko is hoping to top over $200,000, with all proceeds going to St Jude’s Children’s Hospitals.
A banquet will be provided Saturday evening at Savannah Center, which will be transformed into an oasis complete with a waterfall. Doors open at 4 p.m. Dunning Shaw and Donna Moore will provide the evening’s entertainment. There will also be a live and silent auction.
For more information or to make a donation to St Jude’s, call Ziarko at 352-561-4953 or visit the St Jude’s Time To Give Back Golf Tournament website.
