Mott Golf Classic celebrates 50th anniversary of raising funds for Little Victors

The Mott Golf Classic celebrated an exciting milestone this year: 50 years of raising funds for the Little Victors at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

The annual event is led and organized by the Mott Golf Classic committee comprised of Michigan Medicine employees, community members and leadership at Mott, and supported by many dedicated volunteers.

Vendors and local companies are invited to sponsor and participate in the event, which consists of a golf tournament followed by an informational and entertaining dinner featuring a Mott patient family.

“With it being the 50th anniversary of the Mott Golf Classic, we decided we had to feature not one, but two of our amazing Little Victors,” said Luanne Thomas Ewald, M.H.A., FACHE, chief operating officer of Mott and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital.

“We were incredibly proud to have Amelia and Sarabeth Irwin and their family join us for dinner. The Irwin twins were conjoined at birth and you probably remember hearing about our team’s tireless work to ensure the girls can live separately. It was so moving for our supporters to see the girls as thriving toddlers today. And they could not be sweeter waving to everyone and showing off their personalities.”

An important cause

Thanks to the generous sponsors and more than 400 golfers across three golf courses, it was a $1 million event for the Little Victors at Mott.

“We’re so grateful to the Mott Golf Classic Committee and all of the Mott Golf Classic sponsors and participants for raising these funds for us,” said Ewald.

Funds raised at the event provide unique therapies and programming for patients, including Sophie’s Place, an interactive music therapy recording studio within Mott, patient technology programs and Build Up STEAM, a bedside LEGO robotics program.

New this year, the Mott Golf Classic is gifting $1 million to Mott for the creation of the Mott Golf Classic Park, an outdoor calming experience at the hospital. Construction will begin soon on the courtyard area project.

“We’re very excited for the creation of the Park,” said Joe Kryza, chair of the Mott Golf Classic Committee and senior director of HITS. “It’s going to positively contribute to the patient experience at Mott and create an environment where families can take a break, take a breath and enjoy nature.”

Kryza notes that the event couldn’t happen for 50 years without the help of the volunteers and presenting sponsors, Cisco and Dell.

Next year’s Mott Golf Classic is scheduled for June 5, 2023.