FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Freddi Hoffmann

July 8, 2009(860) 658-3744

McLean Honoring Walter Mitchell and

Raising Funds for Hospice with

McLean’s 19thAnnual Golf Tournament and Dinner

McLean’s 19th Annual Golf Tournament and Dinner for Hospice will be Monday, September 14th at Hop Meadow Country Club. McLean is proud to be honoring a pioneer in the auto dealership field and the “leader of the Mitchell family auto dynasty” as the Auto Star Newspaper reported in 2006. “The Mitchells are strong supporters of the community and McLean so Walter was the perfect choicefor Honorary Chair. Plus we all felt this is yet another way to partner with and encourage local business in tough times,” reports Bob Ellis, chair of the event.

As the Auto Star reported “Walter Mitchell’s business life has mirrored his personal life. In both he follows the golden rule. As founder of the Mitchell Auto Group he treated his customers just like he would like to be treated. And the tradition carries on with his three sons who now are involved in the business.”The Mitchell Auto Group actually began in World War I when Bob Pringle, Mary Mitchell’s father, took over an auto repair business. In the early 1950’s Mary and Walter bought the Weatogue Garage, as it was called then, from her ill father. The only franchise they had then was Pontiac. In 1960 Walter added Volvo and two years later he added Saab. Walter was truly a pioneer in the Swedish car business in the USA. Today, his sonsrun six franchises: Volvo, Saab and Dodge in Simsbury; and VW, Subaru and Land Rover in Canton; and a Volvo dealership in Torrington.

A special feature of the golf tournament will be that every par three hole will have a hole-in-one contest for a car lease from a Mitchell dealership. Golfers may win a lease for a VW Beatle, a Volvo, a Subaru Forester, or a Chrysler convertible or a comparable car depending upon availability. The course will be adorned with new cars from the dealerships. The Mitchells were delighted to add this special bonus for golfers to thank them for supporting McLean Hospice.

Walter and his family will be honored guests at the dinner. They welcome their non-golfing friends and those who wish to support Hospice to join them for the auction and dinner. Bob Maxon will return as auctioneer and is so pleased that the Auction Committee has already received some wonderful items including a vacation week in a condo in Cabo, a vacation in a home on FrippIsland in South Carolina, and fantastic seats for Red Sox games for both the end of this season and for next year.

The tournament, auction and dinner support the work of McLean Hospice that annually serves more than 300 families in the Simsbury, Canton, Avon, Farmington, Granby, East Granby, West Hartford, Windsor and Bloomfield each year. McLean Home Care & Hospice is the only visiting nursing agency in the Valley to win the prestigious HomecareElite award for being in the top 25% of agencies in the nation based upon quality measures and efficiencies. McLean Hospice receives exceptional satisfaction ratings from families. “Much of the special care and support such as spiritual counseling and the work of the sixty specially trained volunteers that McLean Hospice is able to provide to patients and families is well above what many programs can do. This is due to the wonderful success of this tournament,” explains Hospice Director Debra Oakes.

The Golf Committee is chaired by Bob Ellis who has served on the committee since its inception. Bill Gombert chairs the Auction Committee and is supported by Lori Scudder McLean Hospice Volunteer Coordinator and a team of her volunteers who are soliciting local businesses for donations. Other members of the committee include Doug Barrett, David Bordonaro, Bob Darling, Dick Dean, Vickie Dirienzo, Kirk Drese, Robert Griffin, Freddi Hoffmann, Denis Horrigan, Bob Maxon, Mark Nelson, Andee Schaedel, Stan Walczewski, and Bill Woodman. They were so pleased that Walter Mitchell graciously accepted their invitation to be Honorary Chair.

Visit and click on news for further information on sponsorships and ways to honor Mr. Mitchell or call 658-3702 to discuss how you may help.

Cc: Photo of Mr. Mitchell