Hosted by the Farmingdale College Foundation and Department of Athletics at Hempstead Golf and Country Club in Hempstead, the 2023 Farmingdale State College (FSC) Golf Classic was a swinging success. A sold-out outing of more than 130 golfers teed off at this year’s event, which raised almost $120,000 for the College.
This year’s Golf Classic honored Marty Lyons and The Marty Lyons Foundation (MLF). Based in Bay Shore, NY, the foundation was founded in 1982 by Lyons, who at the time was an NFL player with the New York Jets. From its first day, MLF’s mission has been to grant special wishes for children ages 3-17 years old diagnosed with a terminal or life-threatening illness.
“It is our distinct honor to highlight Marty Lyons, the Marty Lyons Foundation and the noble work they do making wishes a reality for children, at a time when they are experiencing profoundly challenging medical issues,” said FSC President John S. Nader, PhD. “The Marty Lyons Foundation’s inspiring work is transformational for them and their families.
“I decided to use my name and my God-given talent to make a difference in the lives of terminally ill children,” said Lyons of his drive to found MLF in March 1982, when he was a Big Brother to a little boy who passed away from leukemia at only 3 years old.
Today, MLF has 11 chapters covering 14 states, hundreds of volunteers, granted over 8,300 wishes and raised over $43,000,000. Nearly 75 cents from every dollar donated goes directly to granting a wish, which on average costs $6,500 and can range from Disney vacations, cruises, concert tickets or Broadway shows, to meeting sports heroes, the fun of a shopping spree, to room makeovers or the critical gift of special medical beds or other medical equipment.
On Long Island, MLF has 16 outstanding wishes to be granted but is on course to grant one more. The Farmingdale College Foundation has announced its pledge to support sending a 7-year-old boy from Lindenhurst to Walt Disney World with his family through MLF.
“It is very rewarding to support the Marty Lyons Foundation, and to celebrate our shared commitment to serving the greater Long Island region and beyond,” said Matthew Colson, Vice President for Development and Communications for FSC. “They truly grant wishes today for a better tomorrow and we could not be more pleased to have them as this year’s FSC Golf Classic honoree.”
The event’s title sponsor was The LandTek Group, with additional sponsorships from: Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Northwell Health, 110 Sand Company, H2M architects + engineers, Louise and Bob Ench (‘60), Sourcepass, Inc., The Ferro Foundation, The Schwarz Institute (TSI), Henry Schein, Inc., Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group, Lizardos Engineering Associates, D.P.C., and Farrell Fritz.
Open to all members of the campus community and supporters of FSC, the FSC Golf Classic annually supports The Farmingdale Fund, which provides funds for academic and extracurricular programs, student financial aid, faculty development and campus beautification.
View more photos from the day on our Flickr Gallery
