Proceeds will help families gain access to YMCA programs

By Steven Ryzewski
| 9:38 a.m. September 3, 2015

West Orange Times & Observer
News

WEST ORANGE — Every so often, the Roper YMCA gets a reminder of why it works so hard for its scholarship campaign.

At certain board meetings, the board of nearly 30 members hears from families and members directly benefiting from the program — which offers financial assistance to families and members who otherwise would not be able to attend the YMCA.

These testimonials help fuel the hard work that goes into the annual Roper YMCA Golf Classic, the largest fundraiser of the year for the campaign, which will take place Sept. 21.

“We know that (the scholarship program is) working and that the money is going for a good cause,” said Lori Burshan, one of the co-chairs for this year’s event committee who has been involved with the event for a decade. “We teach kids how to swim who wouldn’t necessarily be able to, whose parents don’t have the money to put them in swim lessons. Every summer, we (help) hundreds of kids.”

It’s that direct connection that members and board members can see that prompted the event’s other co-chair, Rod Rauch, to make the leap from sponsor to actually putting the classic together.

“You can see the dollars come back to the community,” Rauch said. “This is something where you can actively see the families and the difference that it makes in the children’s lives that are there.”

Among perks of this year’s event is its relocation to The Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe. Previously, the event has been at area courses such as Orange County National, Windermere Country Club and, last year, MetroWest Golf Club. This is the first year it will be played at a private club, and organizers believe playing a course designed by Jack Nicklaus will be a big draw.

“It’s a beautiful course … I’d put it right up there with Bay Hill and Isleworth,” Rauch said. “It seems like it’s one of the older-style courses, with a refreshed atmosphere.”

The event is isn’t competitive and focuses more on having fun with golf for a good cause. The all-day event, which is changing from a breakfast/lunch to a lunch/dinner, will feature food donated by Sysco and goodie bags loaded with prizes from area business partners who want to be involved with the scholarship campaign. The theme is Southern cuisine, with a menu offering fried chicken, greens and mac-and-cheese, among other classic dishes.

Another draw of the event is the chance to interact with many of the area’s leaders.

“They get to see a lot of the people that are in the community that they don’t get to see on a regular basis — a lot of the leaders in our community support the Y and they all come out and play golf for the day,” Burshan said.

The event — which also will feature a silent auction and raffle — will be measured by the money it brings in to help local families access all the Roper YMCA offers.

“This is our largest fundraiser for the Y, for our scholarship campaign,” Burshan said. “We do pretty well. When I first started out, we were making in the $5,000 to $10,000 (for the scholarship fun). Now we’re between $30,000 and $40,000. It has increased substantially, and it helps a lot of families.”

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BY THE NUMBERS

Donations help provide programs that promote healthy spirit, mind and body to more than 3,000 kids, families, adults and seniors experiencing financial hardship.

• More than $400,000 in support provided in 2014.

• 2,000 individuals have been given assistance.

• 1,000 kids participated in programs on scholarship.

• 1 out of 4 members at the Roper Y are on financial assistance.