Golf Classic honors Lerner family

The Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando will honor community leaders Robin and Rich Lerner at this year’s annual golf tournament. This year’s event will be held Sunday, May 5 at the Shingle Creek Golf Club.

You may know Rich Lerner for his work as an essayist and reporter for the Golf Channel. What you may not know is that he and his family have a lifelong connection to the J. He met his wife, Robin in preschool at the J in their hometown of Allentown, Pa. His Russian Jewish immigrant grandfather, George was one of the founding fathers of that JCC and his aunt Pat was its first female president. Robin’s family was active as well. Her dad, Mickey, volunteered to coach the basketball team and her brother, Scott, played on the national championship wining team.

In late 1996 when the Lerners moved, they chose to settle in Maitland in part to be close to the J where their young son, Jesse, would attend preschool. Jesse grew up playing basketball for the J, going to the Maccabi games three times. He continues to play in the men’s league during the summers and will be the assistant coach for his brother Jack’s Maccabi team for the second time this summer. Jack is currently playing on two JCC basketball teams. When he turns 17 he hopes to play on a men’s league team with his dad and older brother Jesse.

In addition to their work on the JCC Golf Classic, the Lerners organize the December classic, a weekend golf and good times to benefit the national intensive care unit at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for women and babies.

Through their family’s Elijah Ross Foundation, they have raised money for the Pearlman Pantry at Jewish Family Services, the Boys and Girls Clubs, Harbor House, the Orange County Center Against Domestic Violence and Primrose, which supports developmentally delayed adults. The Lerners have also supported the capital campaign at Congregation Ohev Shalom.

The JCC Golf Classic is a four-person scramble with an 8:30 a. m. shotgun start. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in gross and net divisions. Specialty activities include a $5,000 putting contest, closest to the pin and a $5,000 hole-in-one contest. A continental breakfast and buffet lunch will be provided for all registered players.

All proceeds from this tournament will apply to the Marvin Friedman Children Scholarship Fund. This fund enables individuals and families with financial limitations to participate in a wide variety of JCC programs. The JCC has provided more than $1,000,000 in the past four years to ensure that no child was turned away due to financial hardship.

For sponsorship opportunities or to register to play contact spors director Eli Bercovici at 407-645-5933, ext. 259 or email elib@orlandojcc.org. You can also get information by logging on to http://www.orlandojcc.org.