Garden Foods Golf Tournament

Well Wednesday was a beautiful Sunny day - just the way Carmine Carbone ordered it - and asked me to pray for!  Carmine is the founder of Garden Foods, and the father of Piero Carbone - the current owner of Garden Foods.  Piero and Rose, long time parishioners here at Holy Family and members of our Marriage Preparation Team, organized their 10th Annual Golf Tournament - supporting Caledon Community Services, which was held Wednesday at Glen Eagle Golf Club.  What a terrific Tournament.  I used to organize the Priests' Golf Tournament every year - and I can tell you - the Garden Foods tournament is a top notch event!

The day starts with breakfast (back bacon on a bun) and the Shotgun start is at 8:30.  At least 1/2 of the holes have some sort of Event, Sample, Taste, Experience: from Beef Tenderloin on a Baguette, to Espresso and Sambucca; from Magnum Ice Cream bars, to stuffed rice balls!  Each year Rose and Piero have asked me to say Grace before the Lunch which is served after Golf - around 2:30pm - I realized this year that I should have started the day with a "Shotgun Grace" at 8:30 am since there was so many complimentary food samples on the course! 
I golfed with Nicholas, our Church Organist, and Pat, a member of the parish. She had some local knowledge - having played Glen Eagle the afternoon before at "Ladies Night".  We did not have a 4th.  My Dad and brother - Chris - played with Mike and Ugo also from the parish.  They golfed much better than we did, we won "Most Honest Golfers" and they gave each of us a croquet set. (Were they saying stay off the golf course?!?)

Like most golf tournaments - there were additional fundraising holes - like closest to the "Keg" - sponsored by Molson's, and there were 2 hole in one chances (for $10,000, or new sets of Golf Clubs).  They also sold tickets for a chance at a deluxe trip to Las Vegas, for $100 a chance.  (They actually use playing cards to choose the winner). When I was talking to Fionna Ott, the Director of Fundraising for CCS - she said she wanted me to cut the deck, for the prize winner.  I said no way - I was buying a ticket!  But my dad (The Father of the Father!) could do it!  Well I bought a "ticket" (the Queen of hearts) and never told Dad which card I had chosen. At the Lunch, I was sitting with Regional Councillor Patti Foley, who had also bought a "ticket" for the grand prize - the Queen of Diamonds. As they called Dad up to do the cut, Patti showed me her card, and then we heard:

• Red deck - we both had cards from the red deck
• Queen - we both had Queens!
• Red Queen - it was between the two of  us!
• Queen of Hearts!

I won the trip!  Before I got back to the table - my brother was trying to buy the trip off of me!

It was a wonderful day - not just because of the weather, the golf, the food samples along the way, the prizes, or the great lunch. It was a great day because the tournament raised $60,000 for Caledon Community Services! (over the 10 years over $360,000) has been raised for CCS) 
Monty Laskin - the CEO of CCS revealed that the new food exchange hub that CCS has been working on will have a food pantry called: The Carbone Family Pantry.  I could see how emotional Rose and Piero were when that announcement was made. Thanks to Rose and Piero for all the hard work that they have done this year - and for the last 10 years - supporting this great cause - and allowing over 215 golfers to have a great time while doing it.  My Dad told Rose he has not been to a better tournament!

Peace