After nearly 20
years, United Way of Northern New Jersey
is turning over its annual Chili Open Golf
Classic fundraiser to local non-profit Project Self-Sufficiency. “As we streamline work to maximize our
impact, we wanted to make sure this winter tradition would continue in Sussex
County,” said United Way of Northern New Jersey CEO Kiran Handa Gaudioso. “We
have historically turned over projects such as NJ 211, Dress for Success and
Scholar Athlete to local nonprofits who share in our mission and have watched
them flourish. We are confident Project Self-Sufficiency will be a good
caretaker of this event, and we wish them great success.” Gaudioso added that United Way will provide
planning assistance to Project Self-Sufficiency over the next several months to
assure the event’s transition is smooth.
“We are grateful
for the opportunity to continue and grow this popular wintertime event to raise
funds to help our neighbors in need,” commented Project Self-Sufficiency
Executive Director Deborah Berry-Toon. All profits from the February 4, 2023, Chili
Open will be directed to Project Give Shelter, a new Project Self-Sufficiency initiative
to help Sussex County residents who need emergency temporary shelter or stable
housing.
“Success in
becoming self-sufficient is built on a stable foundation of secure and safe
housing,” Berry-Toon explained. “It’s difficult to find a job, hold a job, get
an education, or receive training when you don’t know where you’re going to
sleep at night, or you must constantly relocate. Project Self-Sufficiency has
comprehensive wraparound programs and the staff to coordinate our efforts with
other community providers to assure families and children are not left out in
the cold.” Many individuals and families
have been unable to keep up with expenses due to the pandemic and significant
increases in the cost of living and now face losing their homes, Berry-Toon added.
The dedicated
funds from the Chili Open will be used to provide local emergency shelter,
security deposits, rent and utility payments as necessary and appropriate,
Berry-Toon explained. Funds raised at
the Chili Open will be used to help those in need in Sussex County through Project
Give Shelter, which is part of a longer-range effort to fight homelessness and
is designed to aid both renters and landlords.
For the Chili
Open, Project Self-Sufficiency plans to continue to partner with county Rotary
Clubs that are instrumental in organizing and serving breakfast and lunch,
staffing a cash bar, and providing souvenir photos of the golfers, among other
event assistance.
“The Chili Open
has been driven successfully every year by a strong corps of dedicated
volunteers who understand the importance of raising needed funds and have fun
doing it,” said Bruce Tomlinson, Project Self-Sufficiency Development Director,
and a longtime Chili Open volunteer. “We are very hopeful that those loyal
volunteers will continue to assure the success of the Chili Open and we welcome
more to join in.”
The Chili Open
Golf Classic is played on a makeshift course at Sussex County Fairgrounds.
Golfers play two of the four nine-hole, par three courses before heading
indoors for lunch featuring a variety of fare donated by area restaurants,
including of course, a selection of chili, with entertainment from a live band,
a putting contest, beverages, raffles and a 50/50.
Only the pandemic
in 2021 has prevented the Chili Open from being played every year since 2003.
Weather conditions have ranged from over a foot of snow necessitating the
plowing of the fairways, to ice and sleet, to unseasonably warm temperatures
when golfers broke out their short-sleeved shirts.
More details
including early registration dates and sponsorship opportunities will be
announced soon for the 20th Annual Chili Open to be held February 4, 2023.
Comments
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comment.