Golfing for a cause: Raising funds for military personnel nonprofit

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Although the oversize check, above, says “$20,000,” this year’s fundraiser brought in more than $25,000.  Buddy Trinkle, from left, Sharon Teich and Jeff Wells, from Wish for our Heroes, pose with the check. SEEKONK, Mass. – A local group’s third annual golf outing – to raise funds for armed services personnel – netted more than $25,000, according to an event chair, Sharon Teich. 

The event, “A Day of Thanks,” is an opportunity, said Buddy Trinkle, another event chair, to thank former and active duty military personnel for their service to our nation.

On June 24, some 56 people took to the Ledgemont Country Club links to raise money for the nonprofit group, wishforourheroes.org, as well as to increase awareness of the challenges that many of our armed services personnel face when they return from active duty, said Trinkle, in a phone interview with The Jewish Voice.

Asked why this event is important to him, he said, “When Sharon [Teich, formerly of Providence] approached me three years [ago] to play golf with Bernie [Teich’s son, who, as a staff sergeant, was severely wounded in Iraq], I accepted the invitation. For me, it was an opportunity to give a small token of thanks to a war veteran who had served for us.”

Named after his Uncle Buddy – who had died at Iwo Jima in World War II – Trinkle added, “We created the tournament to say ‘thank you.’ One veteran said it was the first time he’d been thanked in 40 years.”

Since 18 of the 19 foursomes included an active duty or retired member of the military, Trinkle said that the other three members of those foursome could “spread the word” about this important cause. 

Trinkle, for one, believes that many Americans neither recognize nor appreciate the sacrifices service personnel make when they put themselves in harm’s way for us.

Although we notice the ones who come back with a missing limb, Trinkle said that many more return home with Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome or Traumatic Brain Injuries.

Ledgemont Country Club, he said, assisted in making this a successful fundraiser, which included dinner and an auction.

With the money raised this year, the group has netted approximately $65,000, he said.

Trinkle, Teich and Anthony DeFusco have been involved in this ongoing initiative since its inception. (Visit jvhri.org, search “Bernie Teich” for past stories in The Jewish Voice & Herald.)

For more information, contact Buddy Trinkle (trinkle@trinkledesign.com).       Wishforourheroes.org.