“When you’re in this business, there’s no such thing as a small donation. Every donation we receive is huge.”
Dennis Quaranta, who serves as chairman of the Johnston Memorial Cancer Events (JCME), issued that statement last week after accepting a check for $410, money raised back on New Year’s Day by the fun-loving group that played in the second annual Polar Golf Tournament at Gloucester Country Club.
The JMCE, a non-profit organization based in Johnston, takes great pride in raising money to battle cancer that strikes children.
“It’s donations like this that are extra special, and help spread our mission,” said Quaranta, a recent inductee into the Johnston High School Hall of Fame.
The JMCE, which to date has raised approximately $95,000 through the years, makes an annual donation to the Oncology-Hematology Units at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
“We’re looking to have a bigger and better tourney on New Year’s Day 2016,” Judi Graham, an executive board member with the JMCE and Johnston Community Center Association (JCCA), offered while presenting the check to Polar Golf Tournament check to Quaranta. “I wish we had that weather today.”
Back on New Year’s Day, Graham reminded the JMCE volunteers, “the temperature was a balmy 20 degrees, and 16 brave souls competed in the tourney and raised $410. Imagine it was 20 degrees today – that would be like a heat wave.”
This year’s tournament-winning trophy went to Will Worthy and Mike Langton, but as Graham emphasized, “the real winners will be those children who participate in programs that donations like this make possible at Hasbro. It’s rewarding to see the donation dollars at work.”
The entire 16-player Polar Golf Tournament field included William Worthy, Kim Dumas, Chris Dumas, Alex Dumas, David Graham, Judi Graham, Audrey Jorge, Ed Duffy, Eric Whalen, Brian Curley, J.C. Mobriant, Mike Commendatore, John Martin, Mike Langton, Dillon Langton and Delaney Langton.
“Congratulations guys and gals, and thank you all that participated – as well as donated – to this great cause,” Graham said. “We’ll see everyone again at the third annual New Year’s Polar Golf Tournament and our own JMCE Memorial Golf Tournament, which promises to be the best ever.”
That golf go-round, which is played in memory of the late Sal Gelsomino, Anna Mazzulla and Laura DeAngelis – three friends who succumbed to their respective battles with cancer and whose passing sparked the formation of the JMCE – is set to tee off on Saturday, May 9 at Connecticut National Golf Club in Putnam, Conn.
The JMCE Memorial Golf Tournament – which is said to be one of the best charity events in the tri-state region, and is chaired and coordinated by Vin LaFazia – will probably be sold out in a relatively short time, so those who have never played in the day-long event should sign up as soon as possible.
“We don’t have much trouble filling all 144 playing spots,” said LaFazia, who works tirelessly year-round planning the event and its accompanying food, prize and gift list. “We’re hoping to sell more tee signs in memory of loved ones as well as tee sponsor signs. Please remember that each and every donation directly benefits the Oncology-Hematology Units as Hasbro Children’s Hospital.”
Anyone who’d like to volunteer for the event, or enter a foursome, should call Linda LaFazia, another extraordinary JMCE volunteer, at 401-233-2564, or Graham at 497-2954.
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