More than 140 celebrity and amateur golfers weathered the elements to raise funds for diabetes research at the 31st annual Don Strock Diabetes Golf Classic presented by Miami Seaquarium at the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club in Kendall on May 14.
The event raised nearly $125,000 for the Diabetes research Institute (DRI) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Golfers at the event included Miami Dolphins alumni, other NFL pros, and radio personalities such as John “Footy” Kross, and Scott “Froggy” Langley, Charles Bennett, Eddie Hill, Jeff Cross, Eugene Edward “Mercury” Morris, Kerry Glenn, Stephen Potter, Dwight Stephenson, Roy Barker, Pat Dennis, John Harris, and UM Football alumnus and NFL pro Quadtrine Hill.
They played an 18-hole tournament over three courses, which was followed by a cocktail hour and an awards dinner where they enjoyed a delicious buffet and dessert, as well as bid on hot items that included a signed Chris Bosh basketball, a signed Dan Marino football, FIU helmets signed by Strock, original art work by South Florida artists Romero Britto and Alexander Mijares, and more during a live and silent auction.
Tournament host Strock and chair Bruce Fishbein of The Produce Connection, who founded the tournament and saw another strong show of support from his colleagues in the produce industry, addressed the crowd at the dinner program to express their gratitude to all who have helped make the event one of the South Florida’s longest-running celebrity/ amateur charity golf tournaments.
“The research that we have funded, you have funded for 31 years, it does make a difference.
It really does,” Strock told attendees and sponsors — who, to date, have helped raise more than $2.5 million for the DRI.
He also took the time to acknowledge Arthur Hertz of the Miami Seaquarium for his unwavering support, and other top sponsors, which included: Lennar Corporation GPS; Nickey Gregory Company LLC; Southern Corporate Packers; American Fruit & Produce; The Produce Connection; M & R Produce Distributors; Sierra Produce; Norm Heinrich and Quality First Produce.
He then welcomed on stage guest speaker, longtime DRI supporter and mother of a child with type 1 diabetes, Arianna Lamosa, who moved the crowd with an emotional speech.
“Without a biological cure, Olivia will have to deal with this for the rest of her life,” said Lamosa, who was joined by her daughter, Olivia, on stage.
“But with your help we have the opportunity change that…and as you look at my happy 6-year-old daughter, please take a moment and imagine how incredible it would be for her to be free of syringes, free from worrying about her glucose levels, and free just to be a kid.”
DRI Foundation COO Deborah Chodrow then took to the microphone to thank Strock and Fishbein on behalf of the Institute and those families who are affected by this disease.
The evening closed with trophy presentations for winning teams, money board and raffle winners, and prizes for individual golf contests, which included Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive.
For more information about the DRI, visit www.DiabetesResearch.org or call 1-800-321- 3437.
