↵ NEWS

Jeff Staker Memorial Golf Outing

Original Release: 4/25/2022

Brush Alumni Association newsletter readers may remember the article in the Summer 2021 edition regarding Jeff Staker, '71 and his relationship with First Tee — Cleveland. Jeff was on the ground floor during the inception of First Tee-Cleveland and ran their life skills program at Shawnee Golf Course. First Tee is a youth development organization that enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, they create active learning experiences that build inner strength, self confidence and resilience that kids carry to everything they do.

This year's golf outing to benefit First Tee was held on September 24, 2021, as part of the Class of '71 reunion weekend. Thanks to Chuck Marusic '71 for the article below.

By Chuck Marusic ~ Everyone involved in The Jeff Staker Memorial Golf Outing had a wonderful day at beautiful Manakiki golf course. We had a total of 60 golfers along with 7 volunteers. Our volunteers, Sally Shortle, Linda Staker, Ken Korb, Mary Patton, Pat LoPresti, and Gary Gross made this event come off very smoothly. The weather was picture perfect, which was one of the main hurdles for a golf event in Cleveland at the end of September. Our class participants along with First Tee participants were able to raise $4500 to benefit the kids involved in First Tee Cleveland. A special thank you to the Marc Fried Family Charitable Fund which contributed $3000. It was wonderful to honor a classmate who was well thought of by everyone who knew him. I would also like to thank Gary Gross, Dale Kerver, and Marc Fried for the many hours they contributed to make this event happen. Also a shout out to Dale Kerver, Marc Fried, Gary Gross, and First Tee for providing many of the prizes that made this such an enjoyable day. And what a blast it was getting together with old friends and classmates from good old Brush High School while playing at a golf course many of us grew up playing as teenagers. Though a team from First Tee won the scramble our Brush team of Marc Fried, Tom Covelli, Glen and Cyndi Blackburn came in second place after a 6 hole playoff. Thank you to all who participated on this memorable day.