Lions of Charity: Golf Classic Raises $30,000 for Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children

At the fire of a shotgun, 128 golfers flooded the Avalon Golf Club course on June 23 to play golf, have fun and raise money for the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children. By the end of the evening, $30,000 was collected.

It marked the 11th year the Avalon Lions Charities Foundation has hosted its Charity Golf Classic, the day-long event featured a barbecue lunch, golf match, dinner and both live and silent auctions.

Created to garner support and donations for the Diller Vacation Home, the Charity Golf Classic event is the Lions’ largest fundraiser of the year. The home will host 160 blind and visually impaired 7-to-15-year-olds this summer alone. From days playing in the sand on Avalon’s beaches to roller-coaster rides at Morey’s Pier in Wildwood, the home has provided an all-expense-paid week of summer camp since 1972 thanks to generous donations like that of the Lions’ after each Charity Golf Classic.

The Lions’ donation this year was made possible by a large turnout, generous bidding in the auctions and support from companies like Worldwide Jet, JAK Securities, Shannon Chemical Corporation, Holy Redeemer, and Frank and Tricia Hallinan.

The Charity Golf Classic day started with a barbecue lunch, fueling golfers with hamburgers and hot dogs before they took to the links. Retired CBS3 “Eyewitness News” reporter Robin Mackintosh thanked all participants before the golfing started at noon.

Following the 18-hole event, a cocktail reception and awards dinner ensued in the Links Restaurant. Live auctions, including donated tours of two Philadelphia television stations, were hosted by Mackintosh, 6ABC meteorologist Chris Sowers, and Harry Donahue, the voice of Temple football and basketball, host of “Inside Golf” on NBC Sports Philadelphia, and retired KYW Newsradio anchor. The silent auctions featured bicycles, raffle baskets and Byers Choice Caroler figurines.

“Credit goes to the golfers who answered the invitation to play and to the Lions Club members who spent the day serving everything from food to prizes and goody-bag golf apparel for the participants,” says Mike Sowers, co-chair of the golf committee.

While participants will have to wait another year for the next classic, the Avalon Lions Club’s work for local charities in need is far from done. With more than 150 members, the Lions support more than a dozen Cape May County-based charities. More information can be found on its website, avalonlions.com.

Following the 18-hole event, a cocktail reception and awards dinner ensued in the Links Restaurant. Live auctions, including donated tours of two Philadelphia television stations, were hosted by Mackintosh, 6ABC meteorologist Chris Sowers, and Harry Donahue, the voice of Temple football and basketball, host of “Inside Golf” on NBC Sports Philadelphia, and retired KYW Newsradio anchor. The silent auctions featured bicycles, raffle baskets and Byers Choice Caroler figurines.

“Credit goes to the golfers who answered the invitation to play and to the Lions Club members who spent the day serving everything from food to prizes and goody-bag golf apparel for the participants,” says Mike Sowers, co-chair of the golf committee.

While participants will have to wait another year for the next classic, the Avalon Lions Club’s work for local charities in need is far from done. With more than 150 members, the Lions support more than a dozen Cape May County-based charities. More information can be found on its website, avalonlions.com.