Event Recap
This celebrity golf event allowed foursomes to enjoy an up-close and personal celebrity pairing with guests such as actors Mark Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg, Kevin James, Jonathan Roumie, Kevin Chapman, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, and Hisham Tawfiq, as well as sports stars including boxing greats Tommy Hearns, Evander Holyfield, and Micky Ward; NHL greats Ron Duguay, Jiri Fischer, Mike Keenan, Stephane Matteau, and Jeremy Roenick; PGA golfer Ted Purdy and PGA President, Suzy Whaley; NFL greats OJ Anderson, Jerome Bettis, and Calvin Johnson; MBA greats Kenny Anderson, Ron Harper and Otis Birdsong; MLB great Jeff Nelson; and dozens of other national and local celebrities from the world of entertainment and professional sports.
The morning began with Mark Wahlberg in a putting competition with six Miracle Kids from Beaumont Children's, and four therapy dogs. The children represented the more than 200,000 children treated at Beaumont Children’s each year.
After golf, a spirited live auction raised $200,000 with bidding on a private tour of Rick Hendrick’s Automotive Heritage Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, hosted and donated by Jay and Aaron Feldman; an Italian villa vacation, donated by the Rugiero Family; dinner in the Celani Wine Cellar, donated by Tom & Vicki Celani, and other experiences. A benevolent paddle raise collected $75,000 of additional donations along with a longest drive contest on-course, which resulted in $50,000 for the kids.
The celebrity invitational was generously supported several community and corporate leaders including title sponsor, the Feldman Automotive Group; lead presenting sponsor Quantum Ventures; presenting sponsors Vesco Oil and Corewell Health; and supporting sponsors CIBC, the Celani Family Foundation, the Aaron and Carolynn Frankel Foundation, Fourth Tri Sanctuary, Terra Capital Management, US Signal, AHEAD, CBTS, and Roncelli. Whitlock Business Systems hosted an over-the-top sponsor shop with luxury gifts for all 280 golfers. More than 50 other generous donors made this fundraising event possible.
Support of the Children’s Miracle Network at Beaumont Children’s provides life-saving services, vital pediatric equipment, and funds for patient scholarships given to families unable to afford needed care. The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation will utilize funds to improve the quality of life for youth in Detroit, Boston, and nationwide, by providing financial resources and community support to youth services.
A dedicated committee of community members worked to develop this fundraising event. Led by co-chairs Tom Celani, Nino Cutraro, Jay Feldman, Ken Noonan, Bob Skandalaris and Sam Yamin, the fundraising committee also included these leaders: Danielle Arndt, M.D., Mike Bayoff, Connie Beckett, Margaret Cooney Casey, Ashley Colleary, Dennis Fagen, Joe Fontanesi, John Fragomeni, Aaron Frankel, Carolynn Frankel, Kate Gowans, M.D., Melanie Hearsch, Lita Hoyer, John Peetz, Jon Randall, Patrick Rugiero, Lori Sheridan, Richard Short, Jason Stein, Erica Surman, Mark Taylor, and Jacqueline Thompson.