Golfing Together During COVID For Children With Cancer

3rd MICHAEL MAGRO FOUNDATION ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF OUTING MOST SUCCESSFUL EVER

photo credit is Alex Wolff

After being postponed due to rain earlier in the month, golfers came together on October 26th to enjoy a great day of end-of-season play and benefit the Michael Magro Foundation, Long Island’s beloved charity working to help families with a child battling cancer and other catastrophic illnesses. With social distancing in place and MMF masks on their faces, 117 golfers took to the course at Cold Spring Country Club to raise an astounding $408,000 for this important cause.

Many of the day’s participants were there to support honoree, Tony Magro, Senior Managing Director of Evercore, where he leads their corporate advisory business. Magro, uncle to Michael Magro, spoke from his heart. “So many of you have been so dedicated and so loyal to this cause while I have been a distant observer and supporter. I am humbled.” He referenced the Gala, a tasting event, which could not take place this year due to the pandemic. He choked up as he noted, “…so no Gala because these generous chefs – simply cannot this year as they worry about the future.” Magro reminisced of days spent with Michael, whose kindness and gentleness of soul are reflected in the Foundation. He honored Paul and Terrie Magro, who have dedicated their lives to helping families in crisis. He thanked friends, colleagues, and associates for supporting the event, making the day a success in every way. “I am proud that we were able to raise as much with this outing as the Gala and Outing traditionally bring in together. Knowing families in crisis will be able to get support from the Foundation is what’s really important.”

photo credit to Ed Shin

Dinner guests, spread across several tented outdoor spaces, were treated to a performance by Long Island comedian, Chris Monty. While the laughter he elicited was contagious, the sentiment behind his interest in the Foundation was poignant. Monty noted, “I work with cancer organizations because I lost my mom seven years ago after her second fight [with the disease].” He went on to say, “I’m honoring her memory by doing this.”

Toward the end of the evening, spotted saying goodbye to Terrie Magro, was Tom Alini, Owner of Ticket Time, an online ticket purchasing site. Alini and his family were aided by The Foundation when his young son was diagnosed with leukemia. Alini was heartfelt as he called the event a huge success. “I am truly heartened at the number of people who came out during COVID-19 for such a tremendous cause. Small foundations like Michael Magro Foundations are the ones really working with families. Large organizations are working toward important treatments and cures, and that’s really important. But within three months of my son’s diagnosis, when my wife and I were really in crisis, Terrie Magro came to us and helped make us whole. We are forever grateful”. Alini’s company, in the hopes of paying it forward, is donating 30% of all ticket sales mentioning Michael Magro Foundation back to the Foundation to help families in need. Visit www.tickettimeusa.com for more information.

The 2020 outing was sponsored by: East End Group, the Event Sponsor, and Priority Payment Systems, the Dinner Sponsor, as well as A1 Roofing, Colton Enterprises LLC, DVM Industries, Greenblatt Agulnick, Gutterman’s Funeral Homes, Howard I. Shapiro & Associates, Hooks & Chops, Investors Bank, Kaufman Dolowich Voluck, Dan & Natalia Levy, Mortgage Wealth Advisors, PyroSignal & Suppression, Inc., ReDirect, and Total Fire Protection.

Information on the 2021 event will be available on the organization’s website as it becomes available.

Michael Magro Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization founded by Paul and Terrie Magro to honor the life of their son Michael, who passed away from leukemia at the age of 13. The Foundation works with the Cancer Center for Kids at Winthrop-University Hospital, Stony Brook Children’s Cancer Division, and other Winthrop and Stony Brook pediatric specialties where treatment of chronic diseases is ongoing, as well as with the Golisano Children’s Hospital in Southwest Florida. The core programs offered are: Life Essentials [helping families struggling financially during their child’s treatment with non-medical expenses]; Project SOAR [providing support for childhood cancer patients, families, students and teachers when the patient returns to school following long illnesses]; and Bonding With Baby [helping siblings of babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) communicate and bond]. In partnership with The Spencer Foundation, the organization has added Operation Playcation, an initiative to provide inpatient pediatric hospital patients with Playstation 4 units and an array of gaming choices.