2009 Champions VIP Dinner/Auction & Golf Tournament
FOURTH ANNUAL CHAMPIONS FOR THE KIDS VIP DINNER/AUCTION & GOLF TOURNAMENT A SPECTACULAR SUCCESS FOR KIDS WHO HAVE LOST A PARENT
Yatooma’s Foundation For The Kids held its Fourth Annual Champions For The Kids VIP Dinner/Auction & Golf Tournament on Sunday, June 7 at The Townsend Hotel and Monday, June 8 at Oakland Hills Country Club raising nearly $600,000 to help kids who have lost a parent. This annual event – in total – has raised over $2 million thanks to the extraordinary generosity of thousands of people who have embraced our mission and this event throughout the years.
HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR VIP DINNER/AUCTION
A sold-out crowd of 350 guests attended a fabulous VIP Dinner/Auction at The Townsend Hotel that began with a cocktail reception featuring music by Simone Vitale and exciting silent/super silent auctions that included items such as tickets to the American Idol World Tour, a Los Cabos vacation, Deputy for a Day, Golf with Dan Cleary at Oakland Hills, Michigan travel getaways and tickets to the 2010 Masters.
Many community leaders and local celebrities were in attendance including George Blaha, voice of the Detroit Pistons; Michael Bouchard, Oakland County Sheriff; Michael D. Fezzey, President and General Manager of News/Talk 760 WJR; Sally Gerak, columnist for The Paper; Ted Lindsay, NFL Hall of Famer and Event Honorary Chair; L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive; Paul W. Smith, morning host on News/Talk 760 WJR and Master of Ceremonies; Art Van Elslander, Founder, Art Van Furniture; and Julie Yolles, Crain’s Givers and Shakers columnist.
The evening continued in style as guests entered a beautifully-appointed ballroom for a scrumptious dinner and merriment with friends as music continued by Simone Vitale and his band.
Paul W. Smith came dressed to impress in a suit covered in the Foundation’s logo – a suit that was custom made for him in conjunction with the Foundation’s 2008 Annual Fund Campaign. Paul W. began our program for the evening by greeting and thanking all in attendance, thanking our generous sponsors and underscoring the important work of our mission. Video messages from Tom Izzo and James P. Hoffa – both Event Honorary Chairs – were played given that their schedules did not allow for their attendance.
Norman A. Yatooma, Founder & President of Yatooma’s Foundation For The Kids, then bestowed this year’s Champion Award to Jeff Feltrin, Principal of Prototype Systems Incorporated. This award is presented each year to an individual who provides unparalleled support to the Foundation. Mr. Feltrin, a newly-appointed board member, has been the largest sponsor of the Foundation’s annual “Champions” event for the past three years and recently made a three-year commitment to serve as the event’s Title Sponsor through the year 2011.
The Foundation’s new video was then played, which featured the inspirational story of the Newberry family. Kim Newberry and her three children LaTressa, Serena and Jamal lived through a devastating tragedy when their husband and father – suffering from paranoid schizophrenia – shot Kim twice one ordinary evening at their home and shot a third bullet that ended his life. The family has been helped by the Foundation through provision of grief counseling, financial assistance, a new prosthetic eye for Kim, karate lessons for the kids and more.
As a surprise to Kim, who was with us that evening, she received the Foundation’s inaugural Bridge To The Future Award, which is given to a family who has triumphed in extraordinary ways over significant challenges in the journey following their loss. Through this award Kim and her family received a life coaching package for Kim courtesy of Barry Demp Coaching; college fund contributions for LaTressa, Serena and Jamal, her three children; karate lessons package for all three kids taking them to black belt level; mentors for the kids; summer/back-to-school clothing shopping spree for the kids; a newly-refurbished pre-owned red Saturn LS1; an all-expenses-paid Disney vacation; and a beautiful ladies watch as a memento for Kim.
A tantalizing live auction then began with our professional auctioneer, Dan Stall, who kept our guests bidding higher and higher for incredible items that included a luxury Biras Creek vacation; Detroit Lions/Tigers/Wings/Pistons games in suites “hosted” by legends including Luther Elliss, Herman Moore, Al Kaline, Ted Lindsay and Vinnie Johnson; tickets to a taping of The David Letterman Show; an Australian Feast for twenty four prepared by Chef Keith Famie; and dinner with Ernie Harwell.
And, spots are still available for purchase to play hockey against Detroit Red Wings alumni! Contact 888.987.KIDS for details on how you can score a spot in this game against Red Wings alumni that was featured in our live auction. Purchase of a spot includes participation in the game; a Detroit Red Wings replica jersey with the player’s name signed by all Red Wing alumni who participate in the game; a mini-video of the game to keep as a memento; and participation in a post-game celebratory party in a Detroit Red Wings suite hosted by Ted Lindsay.
After our live auction, guests enjoyed music and dancing til midnight. And, as guests departed for home, they visited our candy bar, a popular stop that had guests going home with their favorite sweet treats.
HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR GOLF TOURNAMENT
Golfers began their day at Oakland Hills with registration where they received a very handsome piece of luggage embossed with the Foundation logo, a practical and stylish gift that will help gain awareness for our mission. A delicious breakfast buffet, practice at the driving range, chair massages and participation in the qualifying round of our putting contest rounded out our early-morning activities.
It was a bit soggy during our putting contest but contestants made the best of it by holding umbrellas in one hand and putting with the other!
Paul W. Smith served as our Master of Ceremonies and broadcasted from Oakland Hills that morning. During the broadcast he interviewed Norman A. Yatooma and Jeff Feltrin providing the Foundation with another great opportunity to inspire and motivate WJR listeners to become involved in and supportive of our cause.
At approximately 10 am, golfers hit the links, and a beautiful day ensued weather-wise. Golfers were especially hopeful to score a hole-in-one on designated South/North Course holes that offered the prize of a $275,000 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder courtesy of The Suburban Collection and Morgan Stanley, corporate supporters who partnered on this Hole-In-One sponsorship. The chance to win a Rolex on designated holes also gave golfers an exciting prize-winning opportunity courtesy of HOUR Detroit’s Hole-In-One sponsorship.
As golfers ended their rounds, they enjoyed cocktails on the veranda, a strolling dinner and music by Simone Vitale Entertainment and Productions.
The final round of our putting contest took place with Thomas Carroll winning a luxury Los Cabos vacation as the prize. Always the consummate gentleman, Mr. Carroll donated the vacation back to the Foundation to be auctioned off on the spot by Paul W. Smith. The winning bidder of the package was Mario Sciberras of Saline Lectronics.
Paul W. Smith continued with our Awards Ceremony where he announced the following foursomes and individuals who emerged victorious:
First, Second and Third Place Overall Winners on South Course
First Place: Congratulations to the Advanced Strategies Group’s foursome with Chris Brandemihl; Soren Christensen; Bill Dorough; and Mark Merucci.
Second Place: Congratulations to the WJR foursome with Ben Boyle; David Boyle; Mike Fezzey; and Jack Krasula.
A tie for First Place between the Advanced Strategies Group and WJR foursomes was settled with a scorecard playoff that resulted in Advanced Strategies Group taking the top spot. Congratulations to both foursomes for a game very well played!
Third Place: Congratulations to the Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association foursome with Doug Brown; Shawn Burr; Wayne Presley; and Greg Stefan.
First, Second and Third Place Overall Winners on North Course
First Place: Congratulations to the Saline Lectronics foursome with Mario Sciberras; Rich Hahn; Ron Taulton; and Mike Dennis.
Second Place: Congratulations to the National City foursome with Mike Kell; Scott Cebul; Dave Morrison; and John Scollin.
Third Place: Congratulations to the Charity Motors foursome with Freman Hendrix; Stephen Hendrix; Sherman Larkins; and John Donigan.
Overall winners received handsome trophies that have come to be a favorite among golfers who participate in our tournament.
Longest Drive on South Course
Congratulations to our winner, Mr. Jack Krasula!
Longest Drive on North Course
Congratulations to our winner, Mr. John Muir!
Closest-To-The-Pin on South Course
Congratulations to our winner, Mr. Don Stone!
Closest-To-The-Pin on North Course
Congratulations to our winner, Mr. Ed Noyola!
Winners of our Longest Drive and Closest-To-The-Pin contests received an Ogio stand bag and a dozen Pro V1s.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
Yatooma’s Foundation For The Kids thanks our exceptionally generous sponsors below who provided significant support for this event. We thank you in advance for supporting our sponsors when you have a need for their products and services. By giving your business to our sponsors, you are supporting the important work accomplished through our charity for kids who have lost a parent.
THANK YOU TO ALL SUPPORTERS
A tremendous thank you is extended to each and every person who contributed to our event making it so successful for the kids and families we serve.
PHOTO GALLERY
OUR NEW VIDEO
MEDIA COVERAGE
SAVE THE DATE FOR NEXT YEAR’S EVENT
Fifth Annual Champions For The Kids VIP Dinner/Auction & Golf Tournament
Sunday, June 6, 2010
The Townsend Hotel
Monday, June 7, 2010
Oakland Hills Country Club
For more information on sponsorship opportunities and to make your early bird reservation, please contact
Jennifer A. Viano, Executive Director, at 888.987.KIDS or viano@forthekidsfoundation.org.
© 2008 yatooma's Foundation For The Kids