Seven decades of former Sun Youth athletes were at Elm Ridge Golf Club on August 8 to celebrate our 70th anniversary and raise funds for our youth sports and recreation programs.
Over 150 golfers and guests took part in the event. Thanks to their help and the support of our generous sponsors and donors, hundreds of children will have the opportunity to participate in sports activities, as well as our day camps and after-school programs – children who might not otherwise have the chance.
Morris “Mordy” Gordon, Marvin Pascal and Lewis Israel started the tournament. The Gordon family was once again represented by the late Mordy Gordon’s widow, Frances Gordon, his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. All were very moved to be able to take part in the event in Mordy’s memory.
“When I was a child, my mother was sick and my father worked a lot. I needed a family and Sun Youth was there for me,” said Tony De Francesco, former camper, football player, bike patroller, coach and community services director. Tony is currently head coach of the CEGEP Édouard-Montpetit football team.
The evening ended in a very touching way when our former VP Finance, now retired, Mr. Jim Stichman, auctioned off books he had co-written with his grandchildren. These raised some $400, which was added to the proceeds. It was a wonderful way to remember that Sun Youth was created by kids for kids, and that it is still very true, 70 years after.
Our most sincere thanks to the volunteers on the organizing committee (Marvin Pascal, Jamie Ross, Dimitrios Manolopoulos, Richard Viau and Manon Landry), to our sponsors, to all the golfers, and to the volunteers (special thanks to Phyllis Leibov and her friends).
We’d also like to thank Elm Ridge Golf Club for their warm welcome and special attention, gift sponsors Stokes, Spector and Marwan Hage – Tim Hortons, food sponsors Le Collectif Curry de Parc-Ex, La Trattoria, LaFrenaie, Keith Petrovsky, as well as auction prizes donors, Café Il Cortile, Le Piment Rouge, Le Club Chasse et Pêche, Montréal Marriott Château Champlain, Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth, Manoir du Lac William and everyone else!
We look forward to seeing you next year at the 22nd annual Sun Youth Mordy Gordon Memorial Golf Tournament!