OPL Charities Raises Over $1,000,000.00 at Annual Golf Tournament

Beneficiaries include local and national charities that focus on improving the lives of children.

The 22nd annual OPL Charities Golf Tournament took place this October, and did not disappoint as over 285 golfers descended upon the renowned golf courses at The Resort at Longboat Key Club. Players and guests alike enjoyed three days of festivities, excellent golf and on-course entertainment as foursome after foursome played through themed food stations, new-age golf activities and entertaining putting challenges.

While the glitz and glamour of the events made for fun-filled days and enjoyable nights, attendees never lost sight of fundraising goals as the focus of the tournament. Evening dinners were punctuated with stories of the challenges faced by those afflicted with tuberous sclerosis and cystic fibrosis. Heartfelt testimonials from family members and children living with these diseases brought the emotional reality of daily struggles and unknown futures to the audience. OPL Charities donated $75,000 to both the TS Alliance and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundations.

Continuing its mission of supporting children’s causes and assisting those less fortunate, six local charities received donations of $25,000 each including the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota County, the Glasser-Schoenbaum Human Services Center, Hope 4 Communities, Manasota BUDS, Children’s Dream Fund and Camp Boggy Creek.

“This event has been something near and dear to our hearts for over twenty years,” said Michael Walsh, president of Ocean Properties Hotels Resorts & Affiliates. “Everyone comes out to support us and I could not be prouder or more thankful for the opportunity to support so many causes that truly impact the quality of life for children we know, and those we don’t. We are looking forward to the 2018 event which will be bigger and better than ever.”

Exceeding last year’s sponsorship roster, this year a record-breaking 72 companies supported the event and attendees engaged in bidding wars over the 99 auction and raffle items that were showcased at the evening events. Ranging from exotic trips to highly-sought after Patriot’s game tickets, the generosity of the attendees brought in significant sums to support the tournament’s charities.

For the first time in its 22 year history, a hole-in-one challenge on the 9th hole of the Harbourside course saw a confident yet stunned golfer walk away with a brand new, sparkling white 2017 Chevy Corvette, complete with all the bells and whistles. With a retail value of over $85,000, the lucky winner, Paul Miller from Attleboro, Massachusetts, experienced the thrill of a lifetime.

The Longboat Key Putting Challenge, a highly anticipated side-event each year, saw Longboat Key town officials participate in a putt-off to earn dollars for special town projects and bragging rights for the year. This year the town talent netted $15,000 for the police and fire department special funds.

OPL Charities thanks its naming sponsor, Cheney Brothers and Platinum and Diamond sponsors MityLite, Foodbuy, FreedomPay, Guest Supply (Sysco), PFG NorthCenter and W.B. Mason for their continued support.

The tournament will once again be hosted at The Resort at Longboat Key Club in October 2018.

About OPL Charities

The mission of OPL Charities is to provide support to various local charitable organizations and communities throughout New England and Florida. Formerly known as Wentworth Charities, our cause has spanned over two decades of fundraising that has led to millions of dollars in donations to fight diseases and to better the lives of the less fortunate.