Tedesco Country Club has been busy this golf season.
But the August 22 Swing Fore Pink Golf Tournament, coordinated and played exclusively by women, might be its most important. The event raised money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. A lot of money. About $100,000!
“It’s amazing to see the growth over the years,” committee member Mary Abramson said. “We did $12,000 one year and each year it would creep up just a bit over time.”
But in the past couple of years it’s reached another level. Last year, $100,000 was raised and this year Abramson said “we are trending to break $100,000.”
Heading into the 2023 tournament, the initiative had raised approximately $350,000. Money goes toward clinical trials, developments of new cancer-fighting drugs and updated equipment.
“We feel Dana-Farber is the best, and we love the research they do for trying to find a cure,” Abramson said. This year, there were 20 $1,000 sponsors, five $2,500 sponsors, and one $5,000 sponsor. Abramson said “It sold out in about four or five days once we opened it up.”
She also credited Tedesco for its help in executing the event.
“Tedesco Country Club has really … made this a premier event,” Abramson said. “They help us out tremendously. We couldn’t do it without them. They donate, they help out. From the groundskeepers to the board of directors, they all help.”
The 2023 committee included Abramson, Jennifer Brennan, Kacy Jauron, Amy Leveroni and Becky White.
“Each year, it gets bigger and bigger,” Abramson said. “It’s an event that is run and played strictly by women only. Everyone is dressed in pink. It’s really beautiful.”
This year also featured a guest speaker: Cathy Burgess, a vice president and investment officer at Wells Fargo, big-time golfer and six-year survivor of Stage 3 ovarian cancer. She was a patient at Dana-Farber, and was impressed with the organization’s personalized attention.
Gross winners in the tournament were Ericka Allen, Janet Brown, Lisa DeSalvo and Darnell Vipperman. Net winners were Lauria Brennan, Deborah Dyer, Maryann Suydam and Pamela Turton.
“There’s joy everywhere. It’s a very joyful and thankful day,” Abramson said.
