Pavilion golf tourney tees off June 2

By Claudia Green

Jewish Pavilion volunteer

A group of guys from Congregation Ohev Shalom Men’s Club have taken it upon themselves to organize a fun golf tournament with proceeds going to the Jewish Pavilion.

The newly formed ‘Pavilion Golf Society’ committee, co-chaired by Ken Davis and Lloyd Green, said they are working extremely hard to ensure that the tournament is a huge success. As the Jewish Pavilion has an ongoing need for funding, it is envisioned that this will become an annual event on the calendar.

The inaugural golf tournament is scheduled for Sunday, June 2 at Alaqua Country Club in Longwood. “We are truly excited about the day and are hopeful that substantial funds will be raised,” says Davis. “Times are tough for people at the moment, which is why it’s even more imperative to ensure that the Jewish Pavilion is able to continue its fantastic work throughout our community.”

There will be a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. and it will be a four-ball game with prizes throughout the day for competitions such as nearest the pin. A maximum of 100 players will be treated to breakfast and lunch.

The committee says they are delighted that they have secured two major sponsors, Florida Hospital and Fifth Third Bank, both of which will have teams playing. The committee says professionals from across various industries will be present on the day, which could give you the chance to meet some new business contacts.

The Jewish Pavilion does so much work with seniors living in long-term care facilities. The charity also runs a Senior Help Desk (www.orlandoseniorhelpdesk.org), which offers free objective advice and support to families that want access to information about senior care.

The current economic climate has obviously had an impact on the Jewish Pavilion as it relies heavily upon donations. Fundraising has become increasingly more difficult and charities are constantly having to come up with new and innovative ideas in order to keep the donations coming in. Nancy Ludin, executive director of the Jewish Pavilion, says, “We are so thrilled that the Men’s Club decided to organize a golf tournament on behalf of the Jewish Pavilion. Funds will be used to increase staffing of our new Senior Help Desk. A successful tournament will mean that seniors and their families are able to access all the information and referral services they desire.”

Presently, the Senior Help Desk is only staffed on a part-time basis, but as the phone lines are constantly jammed with inquiries, it is vital the operational hours are increased to full-time. The charity has earned such good standing within the community that seniors and their families quite literally see it as a lifeline.

If you would like to participate in the golf tournament and be a part of this special day, whether it be to donate, sponsor or play, on either an individual or corporate basis, then contact Ken Davis at 727-798-5354 or khdavis13@yahoo.com or info@jewishpavilion.org.