POPS Memorial Golf Outing Raises $850,000

More than 200 golfers braved the elements on June 27 at the legendary Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, NY for the POPS Memorial Golf Outing to benefit Blythedale Children's Hospital. The rain, however, didn't dampen the spirits of the participants, while all teed off in loving memory of two very special people, Stuart Dix and Ray Starker.

The event was originally founded in 2013 by Stuart Dix, father of Blythedale Trustee Farrel Starker, and Michael Brown. Their shared vision of bringing friends and family together for a day of golf and to learn more about Blythedale Children's Hospital grew in 2014 with 80 golfers raising $200,000 for the children of Blythedale. In September of 2014, Stuart unexpectedly passed away and his family and friends decided to carry on the event in his honor and hosted the first Stuart H. Dix Memorial Golf outing in 2015. Since its inception, this event has raised more than $5 million dollars for programs and services benefitting the children of Blythedale.

The outing, now in its 10th year, was renamed The POPS Memorial Golf Outing with the untimely passing of Steven Starker’s beloved father Ray this past fall. Attendees made this year's event a record-breaking one, bringing in more than $850,000 for the Hospital's unique Day Hospital, which provides multidisciplinary care and education to children who are well enough to live at home, but still require a high level of medical care that isn't otherwise provided in their school or community.

"This extraordinary outpouring of love and support is a direct reflection of everything Stu and Ray stood for, and I am deeply humbled and grateful for the enduring support of the Starker, Dix and Brown families," said Blythedale President & CEO Larry Levine.

"It’s impossible to articulate how far $5 million goes toward caring for our medically complex infants, children and adolescents, but suffice to say, it is life-changing," he continued. "On behalf of these children, and their families, I offer my heartfelt gratitude to Farrel and Steven Starker, Michael and Ellen Brown, Judy Dix, Marilyn Starker, and the entire golf committee for their tireless efforts that made this event such a grand success. And thank you to the exceedingly generous sponsors who supported this event, many of whom have done so since the first year. We are so grateful for your steadfast commitment."

Click here to view a Facebook album of images from the event!

Presenting Sponsors

David & Allison Blitzer
Brahman Capital Corp.
Mindy & Jon Gray
Janice Michelle Foundation, Inc.
The Kaye Family
James & Kimberly Pallotta
Warburg Pincus, LLC

Eagle Sponsors

Eminence Capital/Ricky Sandler &
Melissa Silver
LW Partners
The Musoff Family
Steven & Farrel Starker and Family
Titan Advisors

Partner Sponsors

B. Carlin Foundation, Inc.
Eileen & Jay Bloom
Bonta Imports
Hildegarde D. Becher Foundation, Inc.
Iroquois Capital Management
Redwood
Andy & Gerri Sommers
Weisfeld Family Foundation

The POPS Memorial Golf Committee

Richard Blank, Jr.
Gary Dix
Lawrence Dix
Andrew Friedwald
Laurence Gottlieb
Peter Hochfelder
Chip Kaye
Matt Lalin
Scott Musoff
Robert Sobel
Gary Spitalnik
Dean Starker
 

For more information about this event, please contact Special Events Coordinator Toni Marie Favata.