Rotary Club of Roswell » 08-13-08 Rotary returns to links for outreach

Photo By Todd Hull
From left, Rotary Club of Roswell President Bob Hagan, Cottage School Executive Director Jacque Digieso and co-chairs of the charitable golf tournament, Cliff Rhodenizer and Rick Hoskinson look over the brochures for the upcoming event.

Though he’s not a golfer, Rick Hoskinson is going to be spending a significant amount of time on and around the course at Brookfield Country Club on Sept. 8.

As chair of the annual Roswell Rotary Club Charity Golf Tournament, Hoskinson will be constantly on the move assuring things run smoothly and golfers have the experience for which the tournament has been known for the past 30 years.

He’s hoping that registration will match what it has been in the past, 244 golfers.

“In the last few years we have always been at full capacity. This year, we have some limited availability,” Hoskinson said. “But I’m sure we will fill out.”

More sponsors are always welcome, he said. Proceeds from the tournament benefit 24 charities in north Fulton, and sponsorships defray costs so more money can be given out to the worthy causes.

“Our charities are being adversely affected by this economic downturn,” Hoskinson said. “We raised more than $138,000, but the needs of our community are greater now, certainly, than last year.”

The Cottage School, a Roswell facility serving middle and high school students with special learning needs such as dyslexia and ADD, is this year’s primary tournament beneficiary.

Even in good economic times, the school always feels a financial pinch, said its co-founder and headmaster, Jacque Digieso.

“It’s a myth that independent schools are elite and have all the money they need,” she said.

To assist parents, the school tries to give more than $100,000 in scholarships, funded by whatever money it can raise and through charitable organizations such as Rotary, Ms. Digieso said.

Other organizations that will share in the golf tournament proceeds include the North Fulton Child Development Association, The Drake House, Habitat for Humanity and the Foster Care Foundation.

The tournament begins with registration at 7 a.m. and shotgun start for the first flight is at 7:30 a.m. At 6 p.m. there will be golf awards, an auction and raffle followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Registration fee for an individual is $250, which includes green fees, cart, lunch, refreshments, dinner and five raffle tickets. Packages are available for foursomes and non-golfers.