Hot temps don’t deter local golfers from giving back

2012 Scottsdale Invitational Winning Foursome - Art Hoffman, Zachary Cates, Vince Galate and Chris Fiorentino.

So, how does a successful CEO of a major telecommunications business determine how he can give back to the community?

By finding a “calling,” of course!

Thankfully, the call came about nine years ago in the form of Jim Stratton, then-CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale. Inspired after learning that the Club’s work was impacting an estimated 16,000 children and teens through the organization’s nine branches and 12 outreach sites located in Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Hualapai Indian Community and other Northeast Valley neighborhoods, DC Ranch resident and President/CEO of Broadband Dynamics, board member Bob Rife was intrigued.

“I wanted to find a way to better align myself with the community, but I had a full-time job as well as a marriage and babies that – rightfully so – took a lot of my time,” said Rife. “Thankfully, Jim knew right what to do – give me a chance to get creative.”

And creative, he got.

“After joining the Club’s Board of Directors, they gave me the chance to do something special in my own way,” said Rife. “I took about 75 of the Club kids to Target for a holiday shopping spree – and an annual giving event was born.”

Before he knew it, Rife was an integral part of the Club’s critical fundraising family.

So much so, he took it to the links, developing a private golf tournament – Fore the Kids – at Silverleaf Golf Club, which took place again this year in the early summer months with the foursome of Barry Chasse, Jonathan Cheek, Rick Baker and Andre Karroum taking first place.

And Rife’s team is certainly not alone in planning amazing summertime golf outings to benefit our local kids.

Also in May, board members, volunteers and other supporters of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale were pleased to spend a special day with prestigious members of the business and charitable community at the annual Scottsdale Invitational presented by Ironwood Investment Counsel, LLC, at the exclusive Troon Country Club. Jeff Shiffra of Ironwood Investment Council and Robert Winter of Mutual of Omaha co-chaired the event, and foursome of Art Hoffman, Zachary Cates, Vince Galate and Chris Fiorentino took home the gold for 2012.  

And finally, the Telesphere Invitational was held at Ocotillo Golf Resort chaired by Clark Peterson, board member at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale.

The foursome of Marc Clark, of Panasonic; Jeff Savage, of Telesphere; Joe Furnari and James Collery, both of Standard Aero took home the first-place honors this year.

“Events like these are critical in helping organizations like ours continue to provide critical services to the community’s youth,” said Baker, who notes the three events netted more than $85,000 for the Clubs. “We are also finding that the funds raised from events like these are also making a positive impact on our local economy. We sincerely thank the community for helping us to continue to raise funds that are making a difference Valley wide,” said Baker.