Jess Parrish Medical Foundation Golf Classic Continues to Draw Sell-Out Crowd and Exceed Fundraising Goal

TITUSVILLE, FLA. (April 11, 2023)—More than 75 sponsors, 53 teams, 212 players and dozens of volunteers participated in the annual two-course Jess Parrish Medical Foundation (JPMF) Fran Gerrett Memorial Golf Classic on Friday, March 31, at Indian River Preserve Golf Club and The Great Outdoors Golf Club. Since 2011, the tournament has raised more than $700,000.

The law firm of Zumpano Patricios presented the 18-hole scramble for the ninth consecutive year. JPMF hosted another sell-out crowd at this year’s tournament and exceeded its fundraising goal of $80,000, raising more than $88,000 to benefit The Children’s Center (TCC), a service of Parrish Healthcare, and one-stop childhood development resource center. TCC provides a safe and healing environment for special needs and typically developing children to learn and grow, along with an array of health, education and human services under one roof.

The annual golf tournament lives on as a tribute to Fran Gerrett’s longtime dedication to our community and his favorite charity, The Children’s Center. Fran, a former Parrish Medical Center Materials Management Director, was famous for saying, “It’s all about the kids!”

“Fran was a kind and humble man who loved helping others, especially children. The Foundation’s tournament honoring my father means as much to me and my family as it does to those it benefits,” said Amy Craddock, event co-chair. “My family would like to extend our thanks to the sponsors, committee, volunteers, course partners and everyone that played a role in the extraordinary success of the event. We are honored to be able to preserve our father’s legacy and continue to support the children and families in need of the vital services provided by The Children’s Center.”

Event partners included Presenting sponsor Zumpano Patricios. Platinum-level sponsor HHS; and Gold-level sponsors were MedFast Urgent Care Centers; RUSH Construction, Inc.; and RW Services, LLC. Silver-level sponsors included Injury Centers of Brevard; MIS-Medical Imaging Solutions; Regions Bank; and Wound Care Advantage. Bronze-level sponsors were Anderson Financial Partners, Inc.; The Broome Law Firm/Chris & Kelley Broome; Certified Plumbing of Brevard, Inc.; Cintas Corporation; Coastal Health Systems of Brevard; Randy and Mary Coleman; CPS; CSI Leasing, Inc.; Green Air Environmental of Central Florida; Howard W. Rinker, D.D.S.; Bill and Rachel Terry; UBS Financial Services / Susan Morse and Daniel Levy; and The Watauga Company. Supporting-level sponsors includedAdvanced Care Partners PPEC;Claudine Brandon / Golf 1 Inc.;Carmona Pathology Associates, P.A.; Herman and Joyce Cole; Florida Health Care Plans; Mary Haddad-Mauzy / Coldwell Banker Coast Realty; The Mikitarian Family; nexAir, LLC; Novatech; Ron Norris Buick, GMC, Honda, Ford; Parrish Home Health – LHC Group, Inc.; The Rodriguez Family – McDonald’s; Greg and Kathy Sparkman & Allen and Diane Taylor Families; Christine Sylvester; Gabriel Werder, MD; and WFTV – WRDQ. Par-Tee-level sponsors were CarePatrol of Melbourne; Celebrate RE/MAX Aerospace; MEC General Contractors; RW Services, LLC; Space Coast Credit Union; St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care; and System Tech Services, Inc. Beverage sponsor was Cara Fisher – State Farm Insurance; Breakfast sponsor was Firehouse Subs at Titus Landing; and Cart sponsor was Florida Power and Light Company. In-kind sponsors included Brevard County Sheriff’s Office; Brevard Zoo; The Cheesecake Factory – Winter Park; The Children’s Center Staff and Families; Color Bar; Costco #1450; Amy Craddock; Duran Golf Club; Durango’s Steakhouse; el Leoncito Cuban & Mexican Restaurant; Envinity; Grainger; Vaneesha Greco; The Great Outdoors Golf Club; Green Air Environmental of Central Florida; Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex; La Cita Country Club; Chris and Lisa McAlpine; Moon Golf; Kathy Myer; Ron Norris Buick, GMC, Honda, Ford; Kenneth O’Dea; Orlando Solar Bears Hockey; Publix Supermarkets; Regions Bank; Residence Inn Marriott – Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach; The Resort on Cocoa Beach; Jeff Riley; Christie Rimsky; River Lanes Family Entertainment Center; Sego’s Home Medical Equipment; Space Coast Credit Union; Greg and Kathy Sparkman; Leigh Spradling; Systems Tech Services, Inc.; Total Wine and More, Viera; Turtle Creek Golf Club; Valentino’s New York Style Pizza & Restaurant; Valiant Air Command – Warbird Air Museum; and The Weaver Family. Other generous sponsors were recognized at the tournament.

“We are overjoyed by the tremendous support the tournament continues to receive, and are thrilled to have so many organizations and community partners join us to make a difference in the vital work of The Children’s Center,” said Leigh Spradling, tournament co-chair.

Taking home top honors were the men’s division first-place teams of Matt Belle, Mahindra Lutchman, Matias Trevino and Brandon Wells at Indian River Preserve Golf Club and Neil Hunt, Brian Hurd, Steve Hurd and Josh Norris at The Great Outdoors. The mixed division first-place teams included players Amanda Cole, Chris Cole, Herman Cole and Joyce Cole at Indian River Preserve and Lynne Anderson, Harold Gero, John Gero and Susan Jensen at The Great Outdoors. The foursome of Mary Lou Angarano, Roz Angarano, Patty Labaz and Patricia McCarrick, took top women’s division honors at Indian River Preserve and Amy Craddock, Kathy Myer, Jeanne O’Bryan and Toni Thigpin at The Great Outdoors. Special recognition for the team having the most fun on their course went to Neil Harber, Kelli Neros, Cristol Therien-Douglas and Tiffany Welke at The Great Outdoors.

Amy Craddock and Leigh Spradling, event co-chairs, led the tournament planning committee that included members Santi Bulnes, Kathy Myer, Greg Sparkman, Jeff Riley, Kathy Simonsen, Kristina Weaver and Suzanne Yarbrough.

Next year’s tournament is scheduled for April 5, 2024. For more information about Jess Parrish Medical Foundation, or to secure your 2024 event partnership today, contact Jess Parrish Medical Foundation at (321) 269-4066 or visit www.parrishmedfoundation.com/golf.