The Kate Amato Foundation is looking to fill the remaining spots for their second annual KATE KOMBO Golf and Pickleball Tournament, to be held on Oct. 11 at The Yards in Sawgrass. All net proceeds from this event will benefit The Kate Amato Foundation, whose mission is to fund innovative, nontoxic treatments for childhood cancer.
There is nothing typical about this unique tournament offering something for everyone. Twenty golf foursomes will play a shotgun start, 15-hole course, culminating in a shoot-out for the top teams. Meanwhile, 36 pickleball pairs will simultaneously compete on 12 courts in a waterfall format, combining round robin and single elimination. At the end of tournament play, all golfers and picklers will reunite at The Yards Greenhouse for further fun, fundraising, awards and a luncheon. There is even an option for spectators to attend, cheer and heckle throughout the day.
September is recognized as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the fight against pediatric cancer. Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children. Despite this grim reality, only 4% of total federal research funding is allocated to childhood cancers. Additionally, the pharmaceutical industry's reluctance to invest in pediatric cancer research, citing the larger and more profitable adult cancer market, highlights the dire need for private funding. Events like KATE KOMBO are not just impactful in the community but essential in advancing progress and ultimately saving young lives worldwide.
“Each September we aim to raise awareness and inspire action around the importance of funding pediatric cancer research because true change begins with us. With limited funding and outdated treatment options, it's up to us to push for the advancements that will save children's lives,” says the Amatos, Jeff and Lisa, co-founders of Kate Amato Foundation. “Our signature KATE events allow us to rally the community and raise crucial funds, ensuring pediatric cancer research becomes a top priority. The overwhelming support from local businesses and our community shows that we can drive the change needed to improve treatment options and outcomes for children battling cancer. We’re eager to finish September strong by selling out our upcoming KATE KOMBO event and hitting new fundraising levels.”
The inspiration behind Kate Amato Foundation stems from the heartbreaking loss of Kate Amato, Lisa and Jeff’s daughter, who bravely fought cancer for two and a half years until she lost her battle in November of 2016 at only 11 years old. Witnessing the inadequacies of outdated treatments and the severe underfunding of pediatric cancer firsthand, Lisa and Jeff established the foundation to honor Kate’s memory and continue the fight for other children.
As part of their mission, the Kate Amato Foundation awards grant funding to cutting-edge pediatric cancer research projects at some of the leading immunotherapy and cancer genomics research labs in the country, including: Duke University, Dana Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School, UCLA, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), The University of Colorado, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Cancer Research Hospital, The University of Buffalo and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. To date, the foundation has awarded $575,000 in grants to support revolutionary research projects to save young lives.
Additional sponsors and players for KATE KOMBO are still wanted, and registration for play is open until Oct. 4. The tournament will be held on Oct. 11 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Yards in Sawgrass. Registration includes team play for golf or pickleball, gift bags, brunch bar and Kombo Party. All levels of play are welcome. Registration prices are as follows: Golf foursome is $1,200 and pickleball pair is $300. Spectators are encouraged and tickets are $50. Following the tournament, there will be a collective celebration for all players and spectators with complimentary lunch, live auction, prizes and an awards ceremony.
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, go to kateamatofoundation.org/kate-kombo/
To volunteer at KATE KOMBO, go to kateamatofoundation.org/kate-kombo-volunteers/
To donate to the Kate Amato Foundation or learn more about participating in KATE KOMBO, go to KateAmatoFoundation.org.
