Hollywood, FL – South Florida’s produce and shipping industry came out in bulk to hit the green recently for the 35th Annual Don Strock Diabetes Golf Classic, one of the longest running celebrity/amateur charity golf tournaments in the South Florida community.
The tourney, hosted by former Miami Dolphins quarterback Don Strock and chaired by philanthropistBruce Fishbein, raised nearly $120,000 for the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) and its mission to find a biological cure for diabetes.
The continued support of the produce industry and Miami Dolphins alum like Dan Marino and Nat Moore make the annual tournament, held at the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club in Miami, a great success. To date, the Don Strock Diabetes Golf Classic has raised more than $3 million for the DRI.
On May 9, golfers brought their A-game onto the course, enjoyed a cocktail hour and successful live and silent auctions to benefit the DRI. Extra excitement filled the air as history was made when long-time DRI supporter and event committee member Doug Tannehill of Global Perishable Services (GPS) LLP got a spectacular hole in one to win a new SUV from Warren Henry Auto Group.
Tannehill’s fellow committee members are Brian Cullen, Mary Beth Fishbein, Chris Fries, Adam Homan, Bruce Schumin, Oscar Sotolongo and Joe Vega.
The Committee extends much gratitude to Golf Sponsor Lennar Foundation and GPS Global Perishable Services, LLP; King Ocean Services; Premier Produce; Aloha Freightways; Sotolongo Farms; M & R Produce Distributors; Mr. Greens Produce; Sierra Produce; Quality First Produce; Indianapolis Colts; Miami Heat; Tropical Shipping; Pine Island Tomato Farms; Crystal Valley Foods; Next-Port, Inc.; HapCor; Tonkinson Financial; Warren Henry Auto Group; Mutual of America; Friedel & Bolski; Gordon & Doner; Pollo Tropical; Boar’s Head; Legal-eze; Minuteman Press; Cambridge Farms; Stefanelli Enterprises, Inc.; Vega Produce; William R. Nash; Growers Express; Schneider Global Trading; and Trans Management of New Jersey.
The tourney’s featured speaker was DRI islet transplant recipient Jill Eastman who shared her personal story of living free from worry and feeling better.
“I know today what it feels like to feel good…and it’s thanks to you and to the doctors and researchers at the DRI that have made this difference,” said Eastman, who then shared her gratitude with attendees for their DRI support. “I want to thank you for giving me my life back on behalf of myself and every other islet cell transplant patient in the program and every diabetic on the planet. You are making our wish come true.”
Strock, along with many others in the room, was greatly inspired by Eastman’s words and looks to the future.
“If you saw Jill today, you know it is working and what it has done for her,” Strock said. “A lot of people in the room have someone in their family who has diabetes. That connection is what makes me continue to come back year after year. I look forward to next year for the 36th. I think it will continue to get bigger and better.”
For more information, contact Nicole Otto at notto@drif.org or 954-964-4040.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Don Strock with Dan Marino and Tournament Chair Bill Fishbein at 35th Annual Don Strock Diabetes Golf Classic benefitting the Diabetes Research Institute.
Thank you to our great sponsors of the 35th Annual Don Strock Diabetes Golf Classic benefitting the Diabetes Research Institute. Back Row (from left) Don Strock, John Routh, Bryant Salter of Miami Dolphins Foundation, Eddy Pedraza of King Ocean Services, Andre Gibson of Tropical Shipping and Bruce Fishbein.
Front Row Bruce Schumin of M & R Produce, Doug Tannehill of Global Perishable Services (GPS), Belkis Companioni of Tropical Shipping and Pete Johnson of Quality First Produce.
About the Diabetes Research Institute and Foundation
The mission of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is to provide the Diabetes Research Institute with the funding necessary to cure diabetes now. The Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine leads the world in cure-focused research. As the largest and most comprehensive research center dedicated to curing diabetes, the DRI is aggressively working to develop a biological cure by restoring natural insulin production and normalizing blood sugar levels without imposing other risks. Researchers have already shown that transplanted islet cells allow patients to live without the need for insulin therapy. Some study participants have maintained insulin independence for more than 10 years. The DRI is now building upon these promising outcomes by developing a DRI BioHub, a bioengineered “mini organ” that mimics the native pancreas. While various BioHub platforms are being tested in preclinical and clinical studies, the DRI is also developing strategies to eliminate the need for anti-rejection drugs and reset the immune system to block autoimmunity. For more information, please visit DiabetesResearch.org, tweet @Diabetes_DRI or call 954-964-4040.
Source: Diabetes Research Institute and Foundation