The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Rotary Club of East Nassau is set for the signature events on its calendar and a major fund raiser focused on community outreach.

RCEN’s 33rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament is scheduled for 9:30am May 6 at The Ocean Club Golf Course, Paradise Island.

At the event launch, it was officially announced that Stella Artois has come on board as the title sponsor for this edition of the tournament.

Adrian White, RCEN second vice president and fundraising chair, said the golf tournament goes a long way in funding several initiatives.

“It allows us to carry out the work we do in communities around the world. As Rotarians who we are can easily be summed up by our phrase ‘together we see a world where people unite, come together, take action and make lasting change across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves.’

“We are able to participate in programmes where Rotarians provide the added elbow grease so to speak, the effort to make projects happen. It requires funding, donations, sponsorship and we have a number of companies that step up year after year. Those donations have gone directly to the community.”

The tournament has served as one of RCEN’s main fundraising activities and raises approximately $120,000 each year from entry fees and sponsorships to aid The Scout Association of The Bahamas and the aforementioned initiatives.

Since its inception, the tournament has raised over $3 million. “We back a lot of existing charitable organisations in the Bahamas. Some of those organisations include the Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled. Rotary is there not only making contributions physically and financially, but we also bring attention to charities and organisations that need additional funding so bringing a lot of awareness, which is just as important as providing direct funding. We also participate with the AIDS Foundation and we also have begun participating in a new organisation ‘The Road To Peace’ which is an initiative established by the Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas and it provides participation and give solutions to what we have in the Bahamas which seems like an overwhelming crime problem at times, but we are making inroads and through organisations like this success are being seen. One of the most historic efforts that the RCEN has participated in over the last 40 years has been the ‘Fox Hill Run’ which is where the RCEN provides food staples and supplies on a bi-weekly basis to persons and families within the Fox Hill community. All of these things we do are a result of the sponsorship and funding we receive,” he said, “Next year one of the community organisations we will be partnering with is the 14 Clubs Golf Academy which is the academy run by Georgette Rolle, one of our Bahamian stars on the course.”

Keani Worrell, Bahamian Brewery Brand Manager for Anheuser Busch said the brand saw it as a timely initiative to assist with community building efforts. “Since 2015, Stella Artois International has made efforts and partnered with various organisations to give back to charities over $15 million. We thought that this would be a perfect opportunity to partner with a local charity, give back and make an impact in our community,” she said, “Stella Artois is proudly distributed by Bahamian Brewery and we look forward to partnering not only for this event but future events going forward.”

Other event sponsors include Odyssey Aviation, Aliv, Compass Power Solutions, First Caribbean, RBC, Tribune/100 Jamz, Bahamas Waste, Corner Bank, Margaritaville Resort and Bahamas Wholesale.

“We give thanks to the hardworking folks at the Rotary Club and their efforts in improving our community,” Robbie Lemming, General Manager for the Ocean Club Golf Course said, “With over 7000 employees, we know at some point their lives have been touched by Rotary and it’s a pleasure for us to be able to host the tournament again.”

Over 100 golfers are expected to compete, vying for a myriad of prizes. “Atlantis kindly donates a number of prizes for some of the restaurants, Baha Mar also does that, lots of other corporate sponsors who may not be able to provide cash toward the event give prizes such as plane tickets and room night stays in the Family Islands and if you ask the local golfing community this is something they always sign up for because there are also lots of great prizes,” RCEN Treasurer Geoff Andrews said.

The tournament format is a two-person scramble, net tournament and a minimum of seven drives must be used per player.