Opportunity Project’s 14th Annual Golf Classic at the Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park in mid-September raised over $303,000 — the highest amount fundraised at the organization’s Golf Classic to date. Proceeds help fund New Jersey’s first and only freestanding clubhouse — a place where survivors of traumatic brain injuries can regain independence and attain their individual goals.
Opportunity Project of Milburn is a partner organization of Children’s Specialized Hospital, an RWJBarnabas Health facility.
“The $303,000 raised this year and the over $2.6 million raised at the previous Golf Classics has a direct impact on our members, survivors of brain injuries,” Marc Berson, board chairman for Opportunity Project and chairman of the Fidelco Group, stated. “We have grown from serving 15 to 20 members in 1994, to serving over 700 members and their families since then. The clubhouse provides a place where members can feel comfortable while relearning valuable life skills and reintegrating into the community — we’re proud of that.”
The Golf Classic helps fund Opportunity Project programs, including mental health and wellness, vocational services, occupational therapy for cognitive and memory support, nutritional counseling, speech-language therapy and other critical services for its members. The event also supports awareness initiatives that Opportunity Project brings into local communities and schools to increase knowledge and education about brain injury prevention.
“There are more than 5 million people living with the aftereffects of brain injury in the United States,” Rebecca Gallanter, executive director of Opportunity Project, said. “Opportunity Project’s programs and services are needed now more than ever. For the past 28 years, Opportunity Project has served as a national model for other community-based service programs for those with brain injury, especially because no one is ever denied services due to lack of financial resources.”
The 14th Annual Golf Classic’s 18-hole scramble featured a variety of contests, raffles and unique prizes, including a VIP Package from the New York Giants, New York Mets tickets, U.S. Open tickets, an evening at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, a day of activities at various local farms and various gift baskets.
