By Tracey Costanzo
It was a beautiful day for golf and a terrific fundraising event to support the Center for Educational Advancement’s mission to educate, empower and employ individuals with special needs. Eighty-seven golfers participated in the 21st CEA Golf Classic at Copper Hill Country Club in Ringoes, NJ on September 10th.
The event raised over $39,000 to support CEA’s programs which provide employment, job placement and training programs for people with various disabilities as well as academic and transition to adulthood programs for youth. “We believe that no person should be denied the right to work and the chance to become financially and socially independent members of their community. We couldn’t do what we do without the support of the community,” commented Michael Skoczek, President and CEO of the Center for Educational Advancement. “This event was so successful due to the generous support of many individuals and businesses. I would like to thank our Golf Classic Chairperson, Michael Collins as well as all the golfers who participated.”
The winning team was from Hunterdon Healthcare – Chris Sickels, Bob Coates, Don Pinner and Don Cronin. They scored 64 in the scramble-format tournament. The team from Johanna Foods, Dave Boeger, Phil Howson, Paul Gibson and Kevin McAlleenan, also scored 64 but lost in the tie-breaker.
The CEA Golf Classic was sponsored by: Johanna Foods (golf cart sponsor); Ardito & Co., LLP, Bihler of America, CenturyLink and Hunterdon Healthcare (hole sponsors); Michael Collins and Paul Appleby (cocktail sponsors); Investors Bank (lunch sponsors); Atrion, Diamond Nation, Nadine Maleski, LLC, Robert and Tracey Hamill Foundation and ShopRite of Hunterdon (tee/green sponsors); and Hahr Construction (course beverage sponsor).
The Golf Classic is one of three fundraising events held each year to benefit CEA. The next fundraiser is the 20th Annual Turkey Trot, held in Flemington on Thanksgiving morning. The newly certified 5K run begins at 9:45 am while a 2K fitness walk begins at 9:15 am. This event attracts runners and walkers from all over the United States. Last year there were nearly 6,000 participants and this year they expect even more. On-line registration is now open at raceforum.com/turkeytrot. It’s not too late for your organization to join the fun by sponsoring the event. For more information contact [email protected] or contact Tracey Costanzo at 908-782-1480×252.

