Mercy Haven’s 20th Annual Golf Outing
We were met with a beautiful, breezy day for our 20th Annual Golf Outing, which took place once again at the elegant Hamlet Golf and Country Club in Commack, offering up a challenging course and an exceptional networking experience on and off the greens. “Year after year, our golfers’ dedication and loyalty to this outing is truly commendable” said Dottie Overton, Mercy Haven’s Board President and Vice President of Empire National Bank. “We welcomed many new golfers this year as well, and we are truly grateful for their support.” The outing began with registration, breakfast and Bloody Mary’s in the Ballroom, followed by a 12:00 shotgun start. The all-day event hosted 123 golfers plus an additional 70 dinner guests and raised over $125,000 in vital funds, our highest amount to date!
Our Honoree this year was our true friend and volunteer, Paul Conefry, who is no stranger to our Golf Outing. He has chaired and participated in this fine event for more than 15 years. His commitment to Mercy Haven expands beyond the Golf Outing, as he serves as a member of our Board of Directors for as many years as well. Longtime supporter Bud Harrelson, former NY Met and co-owner of the LI Ducks, was in attendance with his family for dinner, sharing stories and engaging guests. He generously donated a luxury suite for 20 to a LI Ducks game for our “Beat-the-Pro” contest winner. The tournament was presented by premium sponsors Empire National Bank and Ridgewood Savings Bank, proud Gold Business Partners of Mercy Haven. Special thanks, also, to our Bronze Business Partners: AVZ Wealth Management; Farrell Fritz, P.C.; Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, PC; Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C., and Northwell Health/Southside Hospital.
As our guests were enjoying their dinner, Executive Director, Sister Pat Griffith greeted them with a warm introduction of our speaker, Bill, a Navy Veteran and resident in our Supportive Housing program. Before finding a home with Mercy Haven four years ago, he described his life as always on the move and unsettled. Diagnosed with mental illness and other health conditions, he traveled many times between Virginia and New York seeking proper Veteran’s services. He lost two homes to fire, one devastated by Super Storm Sandy, leaving him homeless and in search of stable housing. After a surgery in 2015, his application was approved for Mercy Haven and he had finally settled down. Forever grateful for this opportunity, Bill commends the staff as being “supportive, helpful and compassionate to all of my needs.” His mental health and physical health continues to improve, and he attributes this to having a safe and stable home. “I am thriving and happy. I will continue to help other residents find their way to happiness. We are all in this together.”
Sister Pat extended words of thanks to guests for their continued support and encouragement. She impressed upon them that “we are living in a very tenuous time right now as a society,” under the direction of our current federal administration. “We know that what is being singled out as ‘Good for America’ isn’t going to be good for all. Programs like ours which aren’t funded appropriately now live with more anxiety of what the impact will be of any of these changes on our residents, their health and mental health care, and ability to provide for themselves and families on such limited income.” She stressed that the first step toward stability and self-care is proper housing. “Your presence today helps us to give 400 persons the care that is so needed in having their own home. None of us is exempt from bringing the light to our world. We indeed have the power to change this world. You’ve seen it. We feel it. Thanks to your faithful support and generosity.”
The evening continued with golfers and guests taking chances on raffles and silent auction prizes, as well as a 50/50-Split-the-Pot raffle. The Live Auction this year featured our very own professional auctioneer and committee member, Dave Winter who offered up Yankee’s field tickets, a Sebonack twosome, a private flight for 2 to Nantucket Island and Broadway show tickets complete with a limousine ride, just to name a few. The auction was a complete success, as evidenced by the generosity of our guests. Board Member Jim DiGiovanni, who served as our Golf Committee Chair stood and thanked the committee for their tireless efforts and presented gift cards to the contest winners. A great day of golf, partnered with warm wishes for the year, lead us to look FOREward to next year, our 21st Annual Golf Outing!
