AUGUST 24 GOLF TOURNAMENT IN MEMORY OF WINDSOR’S SKIP McDERMOTT TO HELP FUND ORGAN TRANSPLANTS

Register to play in a benefit golf tournament to remember Windsor resident Francis “Skip” McDermott. Organized by the late humanitarian’s friends, family, and local business leaders, the 11th annual “Skip McDermott Golf Tournament” will take place on Saturday, August 24, 2013. The tournament will be held at the Blue Fox Run Golf Course at 65 Nod Road in Avon.

The golf tournament is held to commemorate what would have been McDermott’s 40th year as a kidney transplant recipient. Proceeds from the tournament and banquet will go to the Connecticut Kidney Transplantation Research & Organ Donor Awareness Fund, Inc., which was founded by McDermott more than three decades ago and still continues to raise funds and awareness to fight all forms of kidney disease. The fund will donate the money to the Transplant Program for Research at Hartford Hospital, the Hospital’s Organ Transplant Family Support Foundation, LifeChoice Donor Services in Windsor, and a $1,500 scholarship to a Windsor High School graduating senior who is pursuing a medical-related career.

 “Skip’s dream was to hold a benefit golf tournament in 2003 to celebrate what would have been his 30th year as a kidney transplant recipient,” explains Betty McDermott, wife of the lifelong Windsor resident who died in 2001. “As a huge labor of love and respect, his friends decided to create this annual fundraiser for organ donation and transplantation and they make sure it takes place every year and is a great success.” Committee members include Betty, Tom and Donna Arcari (Skip’s sister), John Carmon, Alan Collette, Bob Dallesander, Frank Ferrero, Arne Worlund III, Ginger Cleaver (Skip’s sister), Al Rioux (a kidney transplant recipient), and Jim McDermott (Skip’s brother).

The August 24th tournament is open to everyone and begins with an 11 a.m. registration and lunch. Tee-off is at 12:30 p.m. with 18-holes of golf in a Scramble format, followed by cocktails, buffet dinner, and raffles. Players will compete for a variety of prizes including Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin, and a Hole-in-One contest for a weekend in Newport, R.I.

Raffle items include two nights at the Topside Inn Bed & Breakfast in Boothbay, Maine, golf accessories, a variety of gift baskets and gift certificates, and golf foursomes.

Platinum Sponsorships include 4 golfers for $600, Gold Sponsorships include 2 golfers for $350, and Individual Golfers play for $130. Silver Tee/Green Sponsorships are $125, and non-golfers may list their names on a “Friends of Skip” sponsor board for $50. Dinner only is $50. The Connecticut Kidney Transplantation Research & Organ Donor Awareness Fund, Inc. is a 501(C) 3 organization.

Spaces are limited. To register, become a sponsor or donate a raffle prize, call Tom Arcari at
(860) 688-3417 or Betty McDermott at (860) 688-9213.