Village of Glenbrook resident, Col. Fred Geier (USMC Ret.) gets really excited about a project he has been involved in for the past six years. Under his direction, The Villages Marine Corps. League’s 12th Annual Terry Cannon Toys for Tots Golf Classic took place on Saturday at the Havana Country Club, with an evening awards dinner at the SeaBreeze Recreation Center.
A total of 328 golfers signed up for the all-day tournament, with foursomes competing in the scramble by team handicap in morning and afternoon waves. With sponsorships, the event was expected to gross over $35,000.
In addition to great golf and camaraderie, lunch and dinner were provided and awards were given for the first and second place teams in each of the three flights. Plaques were given to the many hole sponsors and there were numerous other prizes, including ‘hole-in-one’ and ‘longest drive.’ Participants were pleased with the victuals catered by Hemingway’s from Havana Country Club.
Captain Ralph Files (USMC Ret.), Â chairman of the Col. Phillip C. DeLong Marine Corps. Detachment in The Villages, was happy to again welcome Mark Sorenson and his Royal Fund Management firm as the ‘title sponsors.’
“Before the tournament started,” Files’ wife, Carol, said, “and even before October, when we put our collection boxes in local stores, we already have large numbers of donated toys. Instead of birthday or anniversary gifts, some thoughtful folks asked guests to bring unwrapped toys to their gatherings — which I think is a wonderful idea.” “Several years ago, one couple even did this at their wedding,” Ralph Files added. “They were a mature couple and had at least two of everything — so they wanted to help the children.”
Toys for Tots began in 1947 and is an official activity of the U.S. Marine Corps. and the USMC Reserves. Since its founding nearly 70 years ago, millions of toys have been provided to needy children across our nation. Locally, the Phillip C. DeLong Marine Corps. Detachment #1267 of The Villages, plus the caring folks of this tri-county area, have been putting smiles on the faces of less fortunate children at Christmastime.
The effort is named in honor of dedicated marine, Lt. Col. Terry Cannon (U.S.M.C. Ret.) who spearheaded the program in this area, and passed away in 2011. “Importantly,” Captain Files said, “all of the money and toys collected remains in our local area.” Toys for Tots is listed among the nation’s top five charities, with 98 cents of every dollar spent directly for the children.
“In 2013, more than 41,000 toys were distributed to 8,300 children,” Geier said, “and we are looking to surpass that number for 2014.” Assistant tournament coordinator, Bill Donlon’s goal is to reach 10,000 children. “We are very well organized this year,” Donlon said, “both with this tournament and the toy collection. Experienced volunteers are putting in a lot of effort.”
We are asked what we do with the golf tournament profits,” Geier continued. “Well, the money allows us to be flexible. When we have a preponderance of either girls’ or boys’ toys, or have fewer toys than we need for a particular age group, the money allows us to buy toys to fill those gaps.”
“Our project helps kids from infancy to twelve years old,” Files emphasized. “Some people think ‘tots’ means only toddlers. We need toys for children aged 8 and 10 and 12 also.” “The most difficult age group to buy toys for is the girls from ten to twelve,” Jan Smith said. The Village of Virginia Trace resident has been golfing in this event since its inception, and her friend, Barbara Beyer, from Mallory Village, agreed. “We do this year after year for the charity, the golf and the fun,” Beyer said.”
The ladies pointed out girls in that ‘tween’ age group are too old for dolls and most wouldn’t use basketballs any more. They suggested colorful hats or purses, games and creative kits to make braided bracelets or beaded jewelry. Some might enjoy art supplies also — like a watercolor or acrylic paint set with brushes and some paper.
Smith moved to The Villages from Massachusetts via Tennessee and Beyer retired from a real estate career in China Lake, California. “There is a big naval air station there in the Mojave Desert,” Beyer said, “where they have sidewinder missiles and other defense hardware. A sparkling pink pendant hung around Beyer’s neck. “Everyone admires this — it’s Swarovsky crystals — but it’s really a golf marker, which stays on the necklace with magnets.”
It was a family affair for Carol Augustson, who lives in the cottage community at Lake Sumter Landing. She brought her partner, Vince Herbert, plus her son and daughter-in-law. Sue Porter, who is Korean, came from West Palm Beach to play, and brought her friend, Hiro Noboru Imoto, visiting from Japan.
Sunset Pointe resident, Capt. Ralph Files, is what Marines refer to as a ‘Mustang.’ That means he rose to the rank of a commissioned officer from an enlisted grade. His military service spans sixteen years and two tours of duty in Vietnam. The pinnacle of Col. Fred Geier’s Marine Corps. career as a helicopter pilot was flying ‘Marine One’ for both President Ronald Reagan and President Bill Clinton — but now, in retirement, he gets a lot of satisfaction from helping make the holidays merry for local boys and girls.
