Golf Event Raises Money at Riviera

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

On July 31, more than 120 philanthropists, corporate executives and golf aficionados spent a day on the greens at The Riviera Country Club to raise money for charity at Jewish National Fund-USA’s annual David Frank Memorial Golf Classic, presented by Advanced Nutrients.

The event was hosted in memory of the late David Frank, a local philanthropic legend for whom the tournament is named after.

Year after year the sold-out tournament reigns supreme as one of Jewish National Fund-USA’s highest-achieving fundraisers. It is touted by Los Angeles residents to be a mainstay of the charitable golfing calendar.

The tournament was chaired by Brett Bossuk and Joe Rosen. This year’s champions were Alex Schaefer, Barry Rudin, Jeff Rudin and Brian Woolf.

Closest to the Pin winners were Fred Berne, Michael Thom and Hannah Gold. The longest drive was hit by Schaefer, while the $2,500 Amazon Gift Card, sponsored by BMO Capital Markets, went to Rosen.

Funds raised through the support of the Jewish National Fund-USA’s partners, entrepreneur and philanthropist Michael “Big Mike” Straumietis of Advanced Nutrients, and various other sponsors, will support the organization’s initiatives that are designed to strengthen communities and improve the quality of life for residents living in Israel’s Negev and Galilee regions.

One such initiative that will benefit from the charitable investments is Jewish National Fund-USA’s Special in Uniform, the only program of its kind in the world that integrates teenagers with disabilities into various sectors of the Israeli military, where they serve according to their unique talents and abilities. Today, over 950 participants are enrolled in the program.

Additionally, in recent years, Jewish National Fund-USA and the Israel Defense Forces launched the Special in Uniform Music Inclusion Program and band, which recently performed its 500th concert. Special in Uniform Director Lt. Col. Tiran Attia delivered a keynote address at the event’s post-tournament dinner reception.

“We believe everybody has an ability, even if they have certain challenges they have to overcome,” Attia said. “If we find this ability, we can boost it and empower these teens to reach their full potential. Our program also assists these individuals with the transition out of the army and into the workforce, so they can be productive and successful members of Israeli society while continuing to achieve greatness in all aspects of their lives.”

“I’m a huge advocate of inclusion, and I’ve always been driven to help others achieve what may seem at first like an impossible feat,” added Straumietis, who personally directs his philanthropic dollars to support Special in Uniform soldiers and “adopted” an entire unit while visiting a Special in Uniform army base in Israel. “Jewish National Fund-USA’s mission is extremely close to my heart. I know first-hand the type of people and projects our philanthropic dollars support, so it’s an honor to sponsor this annual golf classic and play a part in the future successes of these young adults.”

The next David Frank Memorial Golf Classic will take place on July 29, 2024, back at Riviera.

For more information contact Lou Rosenberg, JNF-USA executive director, Los Angeles, at lrosenberg@jnf.org. For a full list of 2023 tournament sponsors, visit jnf.org/lagolf.