The Charles Lafitte Foundation, hosted its 5th annual charity Golf Classic at Plainfield County Club on Monday, August 6 to benefit Camp Merry Heart, an Easter Seals facility located in Hackettstown, N.J. Over $475,000 was donated to Camp Merry Heart, which provides a recreational getaway for children and adults with disabilities and their caregivers, as well as inner city youth and foster children. Jeffrey and Suzanne Citron matched every dollar raised at the Golf Classic.
“The great work Camp Merry Heart does to help adults and children with mild to severe disabilities lead a fulfilling and active life is inspiring,” said Suzanne Citron, co-founder of The Charles Lafitte Foundation. “Each camper is given the opportunity to participate in activities they may not otherwise be able to do, thanks to the camp’s dedicated directors and counselors who provide individual attention and assistance. The smiles at Camp Merry Heart are infectious – I smile every day at the thought of the great things the camp can do with the money the Foundation has raised at our annual Golf Classic.”
The Charles Lafitte Foundation provides for and supports organizations that enrich the lives of children and adults of all ages. Camp Merry Heart was chosen as the beneficiary of this year’s Golf Classic for the unique and much needed services it offers to people with disabilities, inner city youth and foster children. The camp offers year round programs and activities-such as mountain biking, climbing and kayaking-that are adapted to accommodate any disability, so that no one is ever left out. Camp Merry Heart has helped build confidence and provide hope for more than 30,000 campers with severe disabilities. The money raised through the Golf Classic will pay for camp equipment and overall maintenance.
“The camp has a long and proud history of helping those with disabilities accomplish their goals, and that history will continue thanks to the Charles Lafitte Foundation,” said Alex Humanick, director of camping and recreation at Camp Merry Heart. “Without this generous donation, it would have been increasingly difficult to keep Camp Merry Heart in operation and meet the unique needs of our campers. We are forever grateful to Jeffery and Suzanne for enabling us to continue making campers’ hearts merry.”
The 5th annual Golf Classic, that was attended by more than 80 business professionals from many of New Jersey’s biggest companies, was sponsored by several organizations including: Bain Capital, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, AJD Construction, Arnold Worldwide, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Garban Capital Markets, UBS, TD Ameritrade, Respond2 Communications, Inc., Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Duane Morris LLP, Eureka Telecom, Inc., Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, Charles Schwab and Stephen Russell among others. Activities included a cocktail reception; lunch buffet andformal check presentation ceremony.
Beneficiary
Camp Merry Heart (a program of Easterseals New Jersey)
Lunch Sponsors
Robinson Markel, Katten, Muchin, & Rosenman
Jill & Erik Maschler Family Foundation
Mike Krupka
Hole Sponsors
Steve McDermott, ICAP
Tony & Karen Domiano, TONY DOMIANO CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE
Prem Parameswaran, Deutsche Bank
Jonathan Turnbull, Citigroup Global Markets
Peter & Kristen Gerhard
Anthony Diaco, AJD Construction
Anthony DiValerio, UBS
Ed Eskandarian, Arnold Worldwide
Tim O’Leary, Respond2 Communications
