The POPS Memorial Golf Outing Raises More Than $725,000

More than 115 golfers gathered on September 11 at Century Country Club in Purchase, NY for the POPS Memorial Golf Outing to benefit Blythedale Children's Hospital. After a moment of silence to honor those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, the participants all teed off. 

The event was 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 $5.6 million dollars for programs and services benefitting the children of Blythedale.

The outing, now in its 11th year, was renamed The POPS Memorial Golf Outing with the untimely passing of Steven Starker’s beloved father Ray in 2021. This year's event brought in more than $725,000 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.

"There are simply no words to adequately convey the depth of our gratitude to be the beneficiaries of this extraordinary event," said Blythedale President & CEO Larry Levine. "The love and respect for Stu Dix and Ray Starker is palpable, and it translates to life-changing medical care for countless infants and children. Their legacy is felt throughout every inch of our Hospital. I offer my heartfelt thanks 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

Mindy & Jon Gray 
Janice Michelle Foundation, Inc. 
The Kaye Family and Warburg Pincus, LLC
Stuart A. Friedman
David & Allison Blitzer

Eagle Sponsors

Eminence Capital/Ricky Sandler & Melissa Silver
The Musoff/Lazar Family
Titan Advisors

Partner Sponsors

B. Carlin Foundation, Inc.
Lawrence Dix and Hildegarde D. Becher Foundation, Inc.
MYDA Advisors, LLC
Andy & Gerri Sommers
Starwood Capital Group
Starwood Property Trust

The POPS Memorial Golf Committee

Hosts – Steven Starker and Michael Brown
Rick Blank, Jr.
Jay Bozick
Gary Dix
Lawrence Dix
Andrew Friedwald
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.