More than 150 golfers gathered for the Methodist Hospitals Foundation10th annual golf outing at Innsbrook Country Club in Merrillville. Funds raised will support all patient services that the hospital provides to the community.
“The proceeds from our golf outing today will fund patient services at Methodist Hospitals,” said Judy Lindsey, executive director of Methodist Hospitals Foundation.
Lindsey shared her appreciation for everyone’s support leading up to the success of the day. “We believe that today’s event will be our most successful golf outing ever. We have received maximum support from Foundation board president, Heather McCarthy, and the entire Foundation board. In fact, board members, Gary Miller and Niall McShane are the outing’s co-chairs and our treasurer, Stephen Place, is member of the event committee.” said Lindsey. “In addition, the hospital's board, chaired by Robert Johnson, has always been supportive of the Foundation. And it goes without saying that Matt Doyle, Methodist Hospitals’ president and CEO, has always championed our annual golf outings as well as all of the Foundation’s fundraising efforts.
Lindsey also discussed how the degree of support for the event will inspire staff. “Their knowledge of this degree of community commitment keeps them encouraged. They're on the front lines, they're the ones who can't be with us today, and they're the ones who are making a difference in the lives of patients, day in and day out. We call them our “Methodist Heroes.” They certainly have been this past eighteen months,” Lindsey said.
The Foundation and hospitals also used this outing to honor a Foundation board member for more than 10 years and past Golf Outing Chairman for most, if not all, of those years, Jeffrey Draper. Mr. Draper passed away in 2020 prior to the pandemic. Maria Diaz, development and event coordinator for Methodist Hospitals Foundation, discussed how those in attendance would be able to show their respect for him and honor all that he did for Methodist Hospitals.
“We are honoring him by designating Hole #8 on the course as ‘Draper Drive’. It's a contest hole to show appreciation and love for him and do just what he would want us to do with proceeds from the contest, support the hospital’s patient services," said Diaz.
The outing began in the late morning with a luncheon, followed by a 12 Noon shotgun start. Contests were held at various holes to add to the friendly competition. A putting contest was held at hole #10 to win a 55” Samsung TV donated by CDW. Longest-drive and closest-to-the-pin contests were also held. Hole #14 offered a hole-in-one contest for a Lexus provided by Merrillville LEXUS, and hole #7 offered another hole-in-one contest with a $10,000 grand prize courtesy of General Insurance Services.
A silent auction took place inside of the club with prizes that included an Olympia Fields Country Club Golf Round donated by Dr. John Pomponi; foursomes donated by Lost Marsh Golf Course, Briar Ridge Country Club, and Innsbrook Country Club; a chance to catch the Eagle Tribute Band on October 9 in Griffith;,a 2022 Innsbrook Country Club pool membership and a top-of-the-line Blackstone flat top grill.
Ryan Teumer of KB Advanced Technologies, a company offering low-voltage installations and security systems, has sponsored every event of the Foundation and was more than happy to be a part of the golf outing this year.
“They've asked us to sponsor them, and we try to contribute every time because the hospital does such great things and if we can help in any kind of way we love to participate or donate,” said Teumer. He added that he enjoys seeing his customers outside of work and likes to be a part of events that mirror his and his company’s values.
Georgette “Georgie” Driemeyer was asked to join the outing by some friends and chose to participate because she knew it was a great way to give back. She has two nieces who are nurses, so she knows how much hospital staff has to endure and therefore wanted to show her support.
“I love this course, it's beautiful, and it's good to help people out, especially the hospital’s employees, with what they've been going through,” Driemeyer said. “All the nurses and staff really need our help right now.”
The day ended with a festive awards dinner where hole contest winners and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winning foursomes were announced. As Heather McCarthy, Foundation board president, thanked the participants for their support and participation, she reminded them of the impact their generosity will have on the lives of patients served by Methodist Hospitals,
For more information about Methodist Hospitals – including the legacy hospital in Gary and its second campus in Merrillville – visit methodisthospitals.org.
