Inaugural Golf Classic Promises Lifelong Care

For Village on the Green resident Steve Guss, it was more than just a golf tournament. The inaugural Lifespace Foundation Golf Classic, held in late February, will help Lifespace provide lifetime care for all residents – regardless of their financial circumstances. It’s a promise that gives peace of mind to residents and their families, Guss says.

“This way, we know where we are for life,” says Guss, who chairs the resident council at his Longwood, Florida, community.

More than 100 golfers from around the country participated in the tournament at Streamsong Golf and Resort in Bowling Green, Florida, one of the nation’s premier golf resorts. Proceeds go toward benevolent care endowments at each of Lifespace’s 12 campuses.

“Lifespace is overwhelmed at the outpouring of support and hard work from our sponsors, partners, residents, team members and friends,” says Sue McEntee, director of the Lifespace Foundation, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. “Their generosity will greatly enhance the lives of our residents.”

Over time the tournament will help create self-sustaining endowments for benevolent care. “Our hope is that as we continue to build those endowed funds, interest income will help to cover the annual needs of our communities,” McEntee says.

After a beautiful day on the course, players were treated to an evening that included cocktails, dinner and a live auction of gifts donated by friends and partners of Lifespace. Proceeds from the auction also benefited the benevolence fund.

“I go to a lot of charity golf events, and I’ve never been to one as spectacular as the Lifespace event,” says Ken Ogden, vice president of Lecesse Construction, one of the tournament’s sponsors and a Lifespace partner. “The event was superb.”

Mark Kadell, president and CEO of Thomas Cuisine Management, Lifespace’s dining services partner and an event sponsor, also found the tournament to be top-notch.

“It was really well done,” says Kadell, who was impressed by the event’s high turnout and participation.

“It’s a good cause,” he says, adding that the benevolent care endowments are invaluable for residents.

The tournament will be held each year at top golf courses across the country to steadily grow the benevolent care funds, McEntee says. That means residents will continue to experience the comfort of living in a not-for-profit community, knowing they will always receive care – no matter what.

“This is very exciting for us,” McEntee says. “Thanks to the generosity of our golfers, donors and partners, this was a successful event that will help Lifespace fulfill its mission to deliver exceptional, lifelong care.”

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