Clinics Can Help (CCH) will celebrate a milestone of compassion and community collaboration at the nonprofit’s 10th annual Charity Golf Tournament on Friday, Oct. 27, at the Wanderers Club in Wellington.
For Wellington resident and presenting sponsor Gil Martinez of the Gil Martinez Agency-State Farm, it’s more than an event. The tournament’s 10th anniversary is a symbol of generosity and unwavering commitment to a nonprofit that has helped his family and thousands of others in need of free medical equipment to lead more independent lives.
Martinez’s nephew Sebastian suffered a devastating spinal stroke at the age of two, leaving him partially paralyzed. CCH was there through the years to provide specialized wheelchairs as Sebastian grew. More than mobility, the charity gave him back his childhood.
“CCH has made a lifechanging impact on Sebastian and his ability to play and be with other children without limits,†Martinez said. “It gives him such a positive outlook. That’s something I want other kids like Sebastian to experience, and the reason why I’m serving as presenting sponsor. CCH does so much for children and families. We need to be there for them.â€
Tournament sponsors and golfers will support the KINDER (Kids in Need of Durable Equipment Right Now) Project at CCH, which provides reused, new and customized medical equipment to children with different abilities. Many of the children helped by the nonprofit are affected by serious medical conditions, including brain or spinal cord injuries or congenital defects. Their families struggle to afford the equipment that enables them to lead more independent lives. Items like adaptive strollers can make all the difference in allowing a child with cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy the chance to ride the bus, see his classmates at eye level and participate in schoolyard activities.
The cause is personal to PGA Tour champion and returning honorary chair Dana Quigley. A tragic accident involving his son brought him to CCH, inspiring him to help others who have a child with special needs. Quigley will be joined by CBS 12’s morning anchor Matt Lincoln, who returns to the tournament as its dedicated annual chair.
“We are fortunate that each year, as this event grows and evolves, the individual and community commitments remain,†CCH CEO Owen O’Neill said. “We are grateful for the continued support and love as golfers enjoy the tournament and spend time with some of our youngest clients, seeing firsthand the impact we have on families.â€
The tournament is packed with memorable moments for everyone, on and off the green. It kicks off with a shotgun start at 8:45 a.m. and is played in a scramble format with mixed, men’s and women’s divisions. Adding to the fun and excitement are contests and incredible prizes for best dressed team, hole-in-one, closest to the pin (men and women) and longest drive (men and women). A silent auction, awards program and luncheon will cap off the event in the spirit of camaraderie and philanthropy.
Since O’Neill founded CCH in 2005 while he was working as a hospice nurse, he has experienced nothing but growth. He started with humble beginnings, accepting wheelchairs and home hospital beds left behind when a patient in his care passed away, placing them in a storage locker until he could deliver them to medical clinics serving patients with limited incomes and little to no insurance.
Today, CCH occupies a 5,000-square-foot office and warehouse in West Palm Beach and is the only organization of its kind in Florida and one of only four in the U.S. that provides a vast and diverse array of equipment. O’Neill and his team have grown beyond helping clinics to directly serving more than 3,000 children and adults in Palm Beach County and beyond each year. Rather than finding equipment on his own to recycle and repurpose, local hospitals, doctors’ offices and medical agencies are now coming to O’Neil, trusting in his reputation and ability to help families in need.
Martinez knows that the more people who learn about O’Neill and his organization, the more they will see what he and Sebastian know to be true. “CCH is a game changer,†Martinez said. “They let children with special needs forget their mobility issues and just be kids.â€
The Clinics Can Help 10th anniversary golf classic is presented by the Gil Martinez Agency-State Farm. It will take place Friday, Oct. 27, with an 8:45 a.m. shotgun start at the Wanderers Club, located at 1900 Aero Club Drive in Wellington. Tickets for the tournament range from $325 to $1,300 for golf. Lunch-only tickets are available for $100. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Visit www.birdease.com/cchgolf for more information.
Sponsors (at time of printing) include the Gil Martinez Agency-State Farm, the Nicolas Group, Northwestern Mutual, the Geo Group, Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa, the Brian Marketing Group, Team Chester, GOLDLAW, the Paving Lady, Irish Links and Skort Obsession. Some sponsor opportunities and limited playing spots are still available.
Visit www.clinicscanhelp.org/golf for more information about the tournament and sponsorships.
