PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Matthew Wadlinger
Chief Strategy Officer
714-619-0646
mwadlinger@casaoc.org
Second Annual CASA Classic Nets Over $76k for Youth in Foster Care
Orange, Calif. (Sept 13th, 2024) – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Orange County held their second annual CASA Classic on Friday, September 6th, at Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point, CA. This event was chaired by CASA Board Members, Jay Nugent and Paul Tacorian. 138 golfers teed off on the ocean-view golf course at 9:30am to support CASA’s mission of connecting children who have been abused, abandoned and neglected in Orange County with a trained volunteer advocate. Over $76,000 in net revenue was raised.
The CASA Classic has continued to not be your typical charity golf tournament - beginning the day with a bloody mary bar and breakfast burritos for the golfers, and a warm up and stretching area courtesy of Movement First Physical Therapy. Held on the incredibly beautiful and scenic Monarch Beach Golf Links with views of surf breaks on every hole, CASA OC CEO, Regan Dean Phillips, shared with the golfers the mission of CASA and how the funds raised will help drive CASA’s vision of serving more youth in the Orange County foster care system with a trained mentor and advocate.
Golfers began the day’s tournament filled with on course beverage stations and special activations. Around the Box Events, partnered with the Trackman Experience, for measuring the Women’s Longest Drive, Men’s Longest Drive, Straightest Drive, and Most Offline Drive where golfers won gift cards and prizes. Additional challenges included “Beat the Pro” where winners could select a piece of jewelry courtesy of TACORI, two hole-in-one opportunities to win a new Harley-Davidson, courtesy of Orange County Harley-Davidson, and an additional hole-in-one opportunity to win an 18k gold and diamond Crescent Eclipse bracelet courtesy of TACORI. Mike Joyce won $1,000 courtesy of Amazon at the Closest To The Pin challenge hole. Nolet Spirits provided an assortment of beverages throughout the event, including Katel 1 and Nolet Gin cocktails. Wienershniztel provided a delicious lunch for golfers to enjoy on the course.
Burton Young, Kevin Burton, Mike Hornung, and Bob Drown of Sperry Commercial | Sperry Equities were the winners of the second annual CASA Classic Golf Tournament.
Following the golf tournament, event Chairs and CASA Board Members, Jay Nugent and Paul Tacorian, shared some remarks with the golfers and additional after-party guests that joined the festivities. Jay Nugent thanked the golfers for their support, “The CASA Classic isn’t just a tournament; it’s a powerful mobilization of community leaders coming together to make a tangible difference in the lives of the children in our community who need it the most”. “Having been a CASA volunteer, I've seen firsthand the profound impact that dedicated mentorship can have on a child’s life. We’re focused on encouraging more men to step forward as CASA volunteers” Tacorian said.
The Title Sponsorship for the second annual CASA Classic is Astiva Health. Course Sponsor is Akona Capital. Closest to the Pin Sponsor is Amazon, Golf Cart Sponsor is Newmark and Beat the Pro is sponsored by TACORI. Champion Sponsors included The Cheng Family, Canterbury Consulting, Lucy Donahue, Magnaflow, Genea | Lauren and Michael Wong, and In-N-Out Burger.Court Activations Sponsor is Movement First Physical Therapy. SideDoor served as Bar Sponsor. Tee Sponsors are: ECOS, Lincoln Property Company, Deloitte, Dream Big Foundation | Barry and Toni McManus Family, First Bank and Spinnaker Development.
About Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Orange County
A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1985, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County (CASA OC) provides a powerful voice and a meaningful connection for children who have experienced abuse, neglect and abandonment. CASA volunteers are a crucial intervention to help ensure safety, speed up permanent placement, help children and youth thrive in school, and support positive health outcomes. A CASA volunteer is often the only consistent adult in a child or youth’s life who is not paid to support and advocate for them. The CEO of CASA OC since 2017 is Regan Dean Phillips, Esq., MSW. Chair of the Board of Directors is Michael Wong, President & CEO, Genea. CASA is a private, nonprofit organization supported by individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies. It is a member of the National CASA/GAL Association for Children. Please visit casaoc.org to learn more.
# # #