38th Annual Guiding Eyes Golf Classic with NY Giants Quarterback Eli Manning Tees Off June 8th
Westchester County, N.Y. (PRWEB) April 09, 2015 -- NY Giants quarterback Eli Manning returns on Monday, June 8 to host Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s 38th annual Golf Classic alongside the country’s best blind golfers and magnificent Guiding Eyes dogs. The two-day outing, anticipated to raise more than $700,000, will be held at two of the region’s most esteemed courses – Mount Kisco Country Club in Mount Kisco, NY and Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, CT.
Founded by PGA legend Ken Venturi in 1977, the Guiding Eyes Golf Classic has raised over $10 million since its inception. As part of the Classic, Guiding Eyes will also present the Corcoran Cup, the “Masters” of blind golf, on Sunday, June 7. Fourteen top blind golfers from around the world, including Israeli golfer and former World Blind Golf Champion Zohar Sharon, will vie for the coveted trophy. On Monday, blind golfers will challenge their sighted counterparts to experience golf as a visually impaired person by inviting them to take a shot at hitting the ball blindfolded.
Manning was first introduced to Golf Classic through family friend and 24-time Corcoran Cup champion Patrick W. Browne, Jr., who taught Eli and his son, Patrick III, how to golf as boys. “This is my ninth year hosting Guiding Eyes’ Golf Classic and it’s very special to me,” says Manning. “Since I’ve been a part of this, I’ve learned so much about how these dogs affect lives. Every year, I listen to people tell their story about how they’re able to accomplish so much more, and to fulfill so many different talents in their lives because of having guide dogs. That’s been very rewarding for me.”
Joining Manning on the course this year will be Guiding Eyes pup Wrangler, who is currently being raised on the set of NBC’s TODAY show. For someone without sight, Wrangler will one day be a priceless, life-changing gift providing independence, companionship and mobility.
Current sponsors for the 38th annual Guiding Eyes Golf Classic include:
Diamond Sponsors: Entergy, Gatorade
Platinum Sponsors: Canine Company, John Donnelly and Kinloch / EPIC
Gold Sponsors: A. DeVito & Son, Colgate / Hills, Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Skanska
Media Sponsor: Westfair Communications
Silver Sponsors: Aero Hardware, AFCO AvPORTS Management LLC (Westchester Airport), Citibank, Empire Merchants, Harriet and Bob Druskin, Ken Nilsen, The Stewart Family, Rolex, Paul Holland, Pepper Hamilton LLC and Wilson & Son Jewelers
During the Classic, Guiding Eyes will honor Paul Holland as Sponsor of the Year and Cathy Capasso as Volunteer of the Year. A member of the Guiding Eyes Board of Directors, Holland has contributed to the Golf Classic as silver sponsor for more than a decade and has donated his time and expertise as a consultant to Guiding Eyes’ development team. Capasso, a Scarsdale resident, hosts an annual car show fundraiser for Guiding Eyes and interviews the nonprofit’s newest graduate teams each month for website biographies. Capasso also volunteers in the campus gift shop and at numerous special events.
“We are incredibly grateful to our generous supporters and dedicated volunteers for making the Golf Classic an overwhelming success year after year,” said Michelle Brier, director of marketing and communications at Guiding Eyes. “There are many ways to get involved in this unique event and make a difference in someone’s life.”
Guiding Eyes’ online auction, which goes live on June 1, includes everything from signed sports memorabilia to exotic vacations and exclusive experiences. Items can be viewed at http://www.biddingforgood.com/guidingeyes.
In addition, Guiding Eyes will raffle a new 2015 Lexus ES 350 and Rolex watch. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold at $100 each. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.guidingeyes.org/raffle or by calling 914.761.7111. The Lexus is sponsored in part by Lexus Mt. Kisco. Watch provided by Rolex.
Hole sponsorships and journal advertising are also still available. Spectators are welcome at the Corcoran Cup; registration is required for gallery seating. For more information on the Golf Classic, contact Tricia McTernan at 914.761.7111 or [email protected].
Guiding Eyes for the Blind is located at 611 Granite Springs Road in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. They can be reached at 914.245.4024 or by visiting http://www.guidingeyes.org. For the latest news, please visit Guiding Eyes on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/guidingeyes and on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/guidingeyes.
About Guiding Eyes for the Blind
Guiding Eyes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides guide dogs to people with vision loss as well as service dogs to children with autism. The organization is passionate about connecting exceptional dogs with individuals and families for greater independence. Since its inception in 1954, Guiding Eyes has grown to be one of the foremost guide dog schools in the world, known for its accredited training programs and lifetime commitment to its graduating teams. Guiding Eyes is dependent upon contributions to fulfill its mission and provides all services free of charge. The organization’s Headquarters and Training Center is located in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. and its canine breeding center is in Patterson, N.Y. For more info, visit http://www.guidingeyes.org, like Guiding Eyes on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/guidingeyes) or follow @guidingeyes on Twitter.
Kelly Lee, Co-Communications, Inc., +1 (914) 666-0066, [email protected]
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