The 35th Annual VNA & Hospice Foundation Golf-A-Thon Is a Huge Success

VERO BEACH, Florida – (Thursday, May 8, 2025) The VNA & Hospice Foundation’s 35th annual Golf-A-Thon was held on Monday, April 28, 2025, at the Vero Beach Country Club and was a huge success, raising over $484,000. The only annual fundraiser for the VNA & Hospice Foundation, this event provides critical funding for our charitable care programs and services, including quality healthcare for Indian River County residents who have no financial resources to afford the home health and hospice care they deserve and desperately need. 

This year’s Golf-A-Thon was hosted by the Vero Beach Country Club’s Head Golf Pro, Chris Peel. Chris was joined by pros from 12 local clubs who teed off at 7 a.m. and played an amazing day of golf on a beautiful Audubon-certified course.

The other 12 golf pros who joined Chris and contributed their time and talent to the cause were: Thomas Brinson, The Moorings Yacht & Country Club; David Champagne, Orchid Island Golf Club; Andy Nelson and Jack Wagner, Riomar Country Club; James Hammer, Windsor Club; Steve Hudson, John’s Island Club; Ian Killen, Indian River Club; Don Meadows, Quail Valley Golf Club; Frank Mentzer and Jack McEnenry, Oak Harbor Golf Club; Bela Nagy, Sandridge Golf Club; Troy Pare and Ben Stewart, Grand Harbor; Anthony Ranieri, Pointe West Country Club; and Eddie Suchora, Bent Pine Golf Club.

The day’s play concluded with a shootout, which Anthony Ranieri of Pointe West Country Club won. Vero Beach Country Club’s host pro, Chris Peel, came in second. The Director of the VNA & Hospice Foundation, Michelle Deschane, who organized the event along with the Golf-A-Thon Committee, presented the winners with awards and recognized the other golf pros who participated, thanking everyone profusely. She also thanked the benefit’s sponsors, volunteers, co-chairs and everyone else who made the day a success.  “Without the support of our sponsors, our donors and this dedicated group of individuals, the VNA would not be able to fulfill our mission of providing home health and hospice to every resident of our community,” said Michelle.

In addition, Michelle presented the former Golf Pro of The Vero Beach Country Club who has participated in 33 Golf-A-Thons, Randy Hedgecock, now retired, with a lovely plaque honoring his years of dedication to the fundraiser. “I am truly touched by Randy’s dedication to this event and to the VNA. I have enjoyed working with him over the years,” said Michelle. 

Randy, who was pleasantly surprised, said he felt nostalgic spending the day at Golf-A-Thon as a non-participant and reminisced about his experience in past events. “It was always a lot of fun and a great cause,” quipped Randy. “But you kind of miss it; what’s better than to go out and play golf?” 

His daughter, Kendall Hedgecock, Assistant Golf Pro at Sandridge Golf Club, who was present and watched her father receive the award, was visibly moved. “I’m very proud,” she said. 

VNA & Hospice Foundation Board Chair, Carol Kanarek, also thanked the golf pros, including Chris Peel for hosting and the co-chairs who planned the event as well as the day’s generous sponsors and everyone else involved with the fundraiser. She also noted how this year was particularly special as it’s the VNA’s 50thanniversary and the 25th anniversary of VNA Hospice House.

This year’s event was co-chaired by Nancy Edmiston and Karen Formont with the help of many volunteers. Special thanks to Eva and Bill Gurley who were Grand Sponsors, Ned & Emily Sherwood who were Elite Sponsors, Michael Pierce and Bill & Marlynn Scully who were the Event Sponsors and Wyderski Health who were the Celebration Sponsors. Additional sponsors were Hudson Advisor Services; George E. Warren Corporation; HBS Impact Windows & Doors; Reilly Construction; and J. McLaughlin; Holy Cross Catholic Church; and Berkshire Hathaway Services.

To conclude the event, the CEO of the VNA, Lundy Fields, spoke. He, too, showed his gratitude for everyone who made the day possible, including volunteers, donors, sponsors, staff and the golf pros, noting the importance of the cause: “Thanks to all of you, we’re going to provide home care to people who really need it.” 

 

To learn more about this event and how you can support the VNA’s mission, please visit www.vnatc.org/golf-a-thon or call 772.978.5568.


VNA & Hospice Foundation Golf-A-Thon pros who contributed their time and talent to help raise funds for VNA's charitable care services. Photo Credit: Pamela McCollum




A beautiful day was had by all at Vero Beach Country Club for the VNA & Hospice Foundation's 35th Annual Golf-A-Thon. Photo Credit: Pamela McCollum