SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 ISSUE
Charity Golf Tournament Raises $10,100 for Hospitality House
Hospitality House Director of Development Jill Landers and Executive Director Lynne Mason accept a check from Casa Rustica owners Elizabeth and Richard Pedroni. The Casa Rustica Charity Golf Tournament raised $10,100 for Hospitality House. Photo by Corinne Saunders
The 3rd annual Casa Rustica Charity Golf Tournament, held on August 27 at RedTail Mountain, raised $10,100 for Hospitality House. The local nonprofit serves the homeless population in the seven-county High Country area in northwest North Carolina.
One hundred twenty-eight players participated in a day that for Casa Rustica owners Richard and Elizabeth Pedroni was “a lot of hard work and a lot of fun,” Richard Pedroni said.
He and Elizabeth began raising funds for charitable organizations in 2005, just after Hurricane Katrina wreaked its havoc. After that initial spaghetti dinner fundraiser, the couple decided to combine their passions for golf with supporting charities.
Proceeds from their first charity golf tournament benefited the Watauga Humane Society and the Watauga County Rescue Squad. Last year’s funds amounted to $98,000 and went to multiple sclerosis research, both in the state and nationally.
“Hospitality House was our charity this year,” Richard said. “In this economy, we want to make sure we’re helping people in the community first.”
The tournament was an 18-hole captains choice format, and the entry fee was $100 per player. That fee included lunch and dinner, prepared onsite by Casa Rustica chef Hunter Bowling.
“We wouldn’t be able to put this together without the support of everyone,” Richard said.
Tournament volunteers came from Casa Rustica, Hospitality House and RedTail Mountain, and, additionally, Richard Pedroni’s parents came from Florida to help.
Coca-Cola, Sysco Foods and U.S. Foods were corporate sponsors of the tournament, and T.B. Dicks and Golf donated an ASU golf bag for the raffle held after the tournament. The bag was showcased at the restaurant for several weeks prior to event and generated further interest in the tournament, Richard said.
In addition to the aforementioned sponsors, the couple expressed their gratitude to individuals, local restaurants and other businesses that supported the event.
The couple thanked Josh McWhorter and Sam Adams of RedTail, David and Laura Pace of Boone Industries, Jill and Tom Dixson of T.B. Dixson, Joey Marcous of Jo-Lynn Enterprises, ASU Athletics, New River Tire, Boone Golf Course, Audio Vision and all the volunteers, including Katie Langley—a local photographer who donated her time to take pictures during the event.
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