The Funk-Zitiello Foundation will host the 2nd Annual Champions for Hope Gala and Golf Classic presented by Ally Financial® on June 15 and 16.
The weekend’s festivities will include a charity gala and golf tournament held at TPC Sawgrass, home of THE PLAYERS Championship. The overall event will benefit The JT Townsend Foundation and a grant to fund pancreatic cancer research through the Mayo Clinic.
The JT Townsend Foundation continues to focus its efforts on helping children and adults living with disabilities to receive adaptive equipment and resources to improve their lives. Since inception, the JT Townsend Foundation has helped 285 families with over $600,000 in assistance and adaptive equipment on the First Coast.
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville continues to pioneer research to find early detection methods for pancreatic cancer, one of the top leading causes of cancer-related death in the United States.
Judi Zitiello, Funk-Zitiello Foundation’s managing director, is a three-year pancreatic cancer survivor, and this event is truly a personal journey for her.
“I believe God gave me this time to make a difference,” said Judi Zitiello. “I choose to keep going in honor of all the champions who are no longer with us and those in the fight of their lives. We so appreciate our partners who have joined us to give hope to those who need it most.”
The 2018 Champions for Hope weekend presented by Ally and supported by the PGA TOUR, First Coast News, Swisher International and other companies, will kick off on Friday evening with a gala including dinner, a silent and live auction and entertainment by The Chris Thomas Band at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse.
“We’re honored to support Champions for Hope and its incredible work,” said Tim Russi, Ally president of auto finance. “We share the team’s passion and commitment to giving back in ways that make a real difference and ‘Do It Right’ in the communities we serve. We hope their life-changing work serves as inspiration for others to give.”
Celebrities and guests will tee off Saturday morning at the TPC Stadium Course. Fred Funk, Blake Bortles, PGA TOUR golfers and other celebrities attended the event last year. Ponte Vedra’s John Craig Clothier will present the winning foursome with custom fitted “Champions for Hope Purple Jackets.”
For more information, visit http://www.championsforhopegolf.com/.
