Nicholas R. Chiera Dinner/Auction & Golf Classic Stands Up for Kids with Cancer
BOCA RATON – Lending a hand to kids battling cancer continues to be the driving force behind the 19th Annual Nicholas R. Chiera Dinner/Auction & Golf Classic. The two-day fundraiser is scheduled for Sunday, April 22nd at the Delray Beach Marriott and Monday, April 23rd at Parkland Golf & Country Club.
The highly anticipated annual event will kick off at the Delray Beach Marriott on April 22 at 4 p.m. with “Stand Up for R.O.C.K. Camp”, a night of hilarious comedy and action-packed auctions. Leading stand-up comic, Sarge, the evening’s entertainment, recently made his first big screen appearance in the film “New Year’s Eve.”
The silent auction and live auction will be conducted by local auctioneer, Neil Saffer. Five time Le Mans winner and three time 24 hours of Daytona winner Derek Bell will be in attendance as will Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Beamon. An exciting raffle will offer an assortment of prizes including $1,000 cash, a flat screen TV, an iPad and a Kindle.
The golf tournament portion of the event will begin at 7:30 a.m. the following morning with registration and a continental breakfast at Parkland Golf & Country Club. An awards luncheon will follow the tournament.
Funds raised from the event will benefit the American Cancer Society’s Reaching Out to Cancer Kids (R.O.C.K.) programs, which include R.O.C.K. Camp. R.O.C.K. Camp, in partnership with Camp Boggy Creek, brings children with cancer throughout Florida together for a week of fun and adventure at summer camp. Boggy Creek Camp is located in Eustis and was founded by Paul Newman and Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf.
“The Nicholas Chiera Golf Classic has been monumental in changing the lives of many young cancer survivors throughout the state,” said Susan Lee, American Cancer Society’s director of Childhood Cancer Programs. “With the Chiera Family Foundation’s support, the American Cancer Society is able to help send former campers and young cancer survivors to college through our R.O.C.K. College Scholarship Program.”
More than 200 children attend this special camp each year. Campers, ages 7-16, enjoy a full week of camp activities including swimming, archery, fishing, horseback riding, canoeing, a rope course and more. They are referred by pediatric oncology treatment centers, their physicians and parents. There is no charge for attending the camp which is entirely supported by events such as the Nicholas R. Chiera Golf and Tennis Classic.
The Chiera Dinner/Auction & Golf Classic has become one of the largest fundraisers for the American Cancer Society’s R.O.C.K. programs, raising more than $2.7 million in the last 18 years. KSM Electronics Inc. of Fort Lauderdale is once again the presenting sponsor.
“My father would be so proud to see how many children are benefiting from this event,” said Louis Chiera, tournament co-chair. “Some of our college scholarship recipients are now graduating as oncologists who are helping kids with the same cancer they battled.”
For more information, contact the Chiera Tournament Office at 561-799-4601.
