Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade once again hosted its highly anticipated 56th Annual Golf Classic in Memory of Charles “Bebe” Rebozo. The event took place at Deering Bay Yacht & Country Club in Coral Gables on Monday, March 13, 2023. The sold-out event raised over $250K that will benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s services and programs at its six Clubs and sites combined which provide mentoring, educational after-school programs, homework assistance, tutoring, athletic programs and seasonal camps for area youth who need them the most.
The tournament offered 144 players the chance to play for fun or at a competitive level while raising much-needed funds. Former MLB baseball player and champion World Long Drive competitor, Bobby Bradley helped the Club raise funds on the links.
The event kicked off with lunch courtesy of Hooter’s and Gullco Enterprises. Florida’s own Sail Fish Brewing, the official beer sponsor of the tournament, was served on the driving range, courtesy of Kombi Keg Miami. Players enjoyed on-the-go snacks on the course, including Hooter’s famous wings, boneless chicken wings and hot dogs. Shaw Ross International and Ron Barceló rum served up cocktails on holes five, eight and 14.
Guests had the opportunity to participate in various activities and additional fundraising contests at different holes. At hole six, players had the chance to witness Bobby Bradley’s famous long drive first-hand and at hole ten, Hooter’s hosted a game of dice. At hole 17, players had the opportunity to use the ball launcher to catapult their ball across the green or receive mini-treatments from Vengeance Physical Therapy.
The day concluded with an awards ceremony and buffet dinner, featuring a live raffle inside Deering Bay Yacht & Country Club’s newly renovated banquet hall. Raffle prizes included golf aficionado items, restaurant and vacation packages and more. All golfers received a complimentary sponsor-branded swag bag with a sponsor-branded polo, umbrella, golf balls and other takeaways.
“We are tremendously grateful for the ongoing support from all those who joined us for the 56th Annual Golf Classic in memory of Charles ‘Bebe’ Rebozo,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade President, Alex Rodriguez-Roig. “The fun-filled day on the green helped us raise the necessary funds to serve the Club’s many positive programs, support the Capital Campaign to completely rebuild the Northwest Club into a state-of-the-art facility and expand the new sixth Club to continue making a difference in the lives of Miami-Dade area youth for generations to come.”
In February 2023, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade announced its expansion and is now operating a sixth site at Dr. Frederica S. Wilson Skyway Elementary School, located at 4555 NW 206th Terrace, Miami Gardens, FL 33055. The site at the Dr. Frederica S. Wilson Skyway Elementary School currently serves approximately 100 children from the local area and is now accepting new youth members. The Dr. Frederica S. Wilson Skyway Elementary School site aims to introduce tennis and golf to underserved populations and foster a love for the sport to all demographics and has begun its second phase of construction of tennis courts and a miniature golf course on campus with support from Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade.
Additionally, the tournament helped raise funds for Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s Capital Campaign to completely rebuild and renovate its Northwest Club into a state-of-the-art facility for generations to come. Located at 10915 NW 14 Avenue Miami, FL 33167, the Northwest Club opened its doors in 1953 and today it serves predominately African American children from lower income families. Boys & Girls of Miami-Dade’s plan is to completely rebuild the 11-acre campus including demolition of the existing 1950s building to build a new 25,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility featuring a learning center, STEM and computer lab, teen center and recreational areas, and the complete refurbishment of its existing fields and gym. The total cost of the project is $13 million, and construction is expected to begin in 2024.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade recognizes its 56th Annual Golf Classic Golf Committee Chair Anthony Lopez and Special Events Chair Olga Guilarte as well as committee members Eric Fernandez, Clint Gulley, Chris Merlo, Alex Quevedo, Fred Rebozo, Ed Soto, Marc Suarez and Taylor Walker.
The 2023 Presenting Sponsors were Carmen Rebozo Foundation, Kerry Pacifico and Publix Super Market Charities. The Double Eagle Sponsor was DRRT and The Eagle Sponsor was Performance Team Sports. The Birdie Sponsors were Ocean Bank and Wells Fargo Advisors. Par Sponsors included Camcon, CCU, LLC/Blue Streak; Eller ITO; FloridaTours.com and LCL Food Services, Mc Donald's. The Bogey Sponsors were Argo Management, Charter America Holdings, Inc., LUMENT and R&S Companies. The Green Sponsors were Gullco Enterprises, Inc. McDonald's, Harding Brothers, Menendez Management, Rio Vista Management Group, Tasalaa7, Tasco and Volta Roofing. The Hole in One Sponsor was Doral Automotive Group and the Wine & Spirits Sponsor was Shaw-Ross International Importers. Sailfish Brewing Company was the Beer Sponsor and Hooters and La Dominicana Cigars were the Hospitality Sponsors. The awards were sponsored by Casa Faroy.