Supporters of Providence Saint Joseph Foundation came together for a day of golf, philanthropy and entertainment at the recent Comcast NBCUniversal Mario Lopez Golf Classic, which raised $430,000 for the Burbank hospital.
Lopez, whose three children were born at Providence Saint Joseph, hosted the event that began with a putting contest and golf shotgun start. A barbecue lunch was held followed by a 19th hole reception, and an awards dinner capped the day. Guests danced to music of Yachtley Crew’s 70s and 80s soft rock and bid on treasures in a live auction.
“This is our signature fundraising event of the year,” said Angela Khurdajian, director of philanthropy for Providence Saint Joseph Foundation. “Mario Lopez is always a big draw. He spent the entire day graciously thanking everyone for their support and taking pictures. And Lakeside is a draw. People want to play there”.
The landmark entertainment studios including Comcast NBCUniversal, The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. have contributed generously to the Burbank hospital for decades. Many of the entertainment industry leaders golfed alongside Karl Keeler, chief executive of Providence Saint Joseph, and several active and retired doctors and nurses.
The foundation honored Michael Daruty, a newly retired Comcast NBCUniversal executive and member of the foundation board of directors, who also has been a member of the golf committee for 18 years, the last nine of those as chairman of the golf committee.
“Michael’s leadership has been instrumental for our success year after year,” Khurdajian said. “He has been an extraordinary ambassador and has brought in many media companies who support us and look forward to participating each year.
“These companies always have supported us,” she added. “Regardless of where people get their care, when you’re so close and there’s an emergency, they know to come to us or to send their employees to us for high quality compassionate care.”
Since 2004, the golf committee has raised a total of $6.6 million for the hospital’s clinical institutes including the: Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, Howard and Hycy Hill Neuroscience Institute, Women's and Children's Institute and, most recently, the Jaromír Střížka Emergency Department and the Cusumano Family Health Center, which is scheduled to open later this year. The Cusumano family, supporting Providence for nearly 50 years, also was a sponsor of the event.
“Our gratitude goes to our generous sponsors and to everyone who made this golf tournament a smashing success,” Khurdajian said in thanking supporters.
Other key sponsors that made the event a success were The Walt Disney Company, Worthe Real Estate Group, Entertainment Partners, Qvest.US, Metropolitan Culinary Services, Dolby, 2G Digital, MTI Film LLC, Illuminate Hollywood, the Los Angeles Chargers, Murphy and Ed Romano and United Airlines.
