Redlands Christian Migrant Association
RCMA GOLF TOURNAMENT RAISES $73,267
Winners: TheSouthwest Florida Workforce Development Board team placed first in RCMA’s golf tournament. From left, Joel Whittenhal, Tracy Landsberry, Curt Bradbury, Joe Paterno.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IMMOKALEE, FL – May 28, 2008 -- RCMA’s ninth annual golf tournament raised $73,267 to provide services for children of migrant farm workers and rural, low-income families at Redlands Christian Migrant Association centers across the state.
“Given the sluggish economy, we are especially delighted with the tournament’s success,” said RCMA Executive Director Barbara Mainster. “We are extremely grateful to our nearly 30 key sponsors and 112 players who supported us this year.”
Under state funding formulas, RCMA can generate $1 in grant funding for every dollar raises, so the net profit from the golf tournament will generate nearly $1.2 million for children’s programs and services, Ms. Mainster said. Founded in 1965 in the Redlands farming of Miami-DadeCounty, RCMA provides child care and early education for nearly 8,000 children of farmworkers and working poor families in rural Florida, including approximately 1,000 children in Collier.
The team from the Southwest Florida Worforce Development Board – Joel Whittenhal, Tracy Landsberry, Curt Bradbury and Joe Paterno -- placed first in the tournament, which was held May 3 at the Lely Golf Resort in Naples. RCMAImmokaleeCommunitySchool fourth-grader Jennifer Ocanas won a 42-inch Vizio LCD TV in the grand prize drawing, with a ticket donated by outgoing RCMA board member Bill Laimbeer of MarcoIsland.
RCMA extends special thanks to diamond sponsor Olde Florida Benefits Group, which donated $7,500. Kim Dinkel of Olde Florida Benefits served as golf chairman and donated countless hours toward the event’s success.
Platinum sponsors, donating $5,000 each, were Florida Community Bank, Kaplan Companies, Inc. and Marsh USA, Inc. Danka Office Solutions was in-kind sponsor with a $3,500 donation, and Bill Laimbeer of MarcoIsland, an outgoing member of RCMA’s Board, was the honorary sponsor with a $3,000 donation.
Gold sponsors ($2,500) were Corporate Express, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Seminole Indian Casino / Immokaleeand the Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board.
Silver sponsors ($2,000) were Bank of America, Florida Tomato Exchange, Quaker Sales & Distribution, Inc., Tropicana Products, Inc. and Six L’s, Inc.
Bronze sponsors ($1,500) were BlueCross BlueShield of Florida (two bronze teams), Gargiulo, Inc., Lykes Springhill Foundation, Inc., and Ocariz, Gitlin & Zomerfeld, LLP.
Corporate sponsors ($1,100) were The ABACUS Co., Agricultural Employee Services, DUDA, FreshPoint Southwest Florida, J&C Tropicals, Leslie Reunion, Nobles-Collier, Rentokil (two corporate teams), Seminole Tribe of Florida and Wausau Insurance Co.
Charter sponsors ($1,000) were the Covill family of Vero Beach and the Paul J. Dimare Foundation.
Beverage cart sponsor ($1,000) was Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co. And Thomco, Inc., was hole-in-one sponsor ($1,000).
In addition, more than 60 businesses and individuals from Southwest Floridadonated valuable door prizes and goody bag gifts for each participant.
The tournament is traditionally held the first Saturday of May. To add your name to the mailing list for the 10th annual tournament in 2009, call or e-mail Judy Brill at (239) 658-3560 or .
# # #
For information contact,
Matt Bokor / Judy Brill
RCMA Community Relations Department
(239) 658-3560