By Madeline Zuckerman
Guests thoroughly themselves at the recent Mama’s House First Annual Charity Golf Classic and Rat Pack Dinner Show held at the Indian Wells Country Club in Indian Wells. The event was truly a party with a purpose, encompassing a day of golf followed by an elegant dinner show, proving to be a winning combination! The brainchild of three visionary Co-chairs, including Dr. Vincent Nola, Board Member of Mama’s House, Jeroen Sparreboom, and Yin Tchen, the event was magical.
“With a great team dedicated to its success, this First Annual Golf Classic & Dinner Show benefitting Mama’s House was indeed just that!” said Jan Lupia, Founder & Executive Director of Mama’s House. “We are thrilled to have a new signature event that will be even better year after year. We plan to sell out early for the 2023 Golf Classic and Dinner Show, with many guests having already set aside Friday, March 24, 2023 on their calendars! On behalf of our residents, Board of Directors, staff and volunteers, I am most grateful for the outpouring of support from so many, including a large number of new individuals to our organization. I want to thank everyone for giving of their time, in-kind and financial donations, to further the good work of Mama’s House that sees lives changed and on track toward a brighter future.”
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary milestone, Mama’s House offers a safe, supportive, loving, and nurturing residential environment for women in crises, whether pregnant or with an infant, who are vulnerable with no place to go and no means of support. Mama’s House offers an extensive one-of-a-kind program of hope. Due to the unwavering support for the organization over the past several years, a second residential property has been purchased and approved, with construction presently underway to build a new safe and secure campus, which will encompass five new Casitas and the expansion and renovation of an existing house. This new campus has been named in honor of long time Mama’s House supporter Anne Thompson-Silverstein.
“My wife and I are both immigrants from Holland and Viet Nam,” said Co-chair Jeroen Sparreboom. “We have always wanted to give back for all the opportunities afforded us here in America. One of our ideas was to develop a charity golf tournament and dinner show, complete with dancing. We started chatting with our friend and neighbor Dr. Vincent Nola, who shared the important work Mama’s House is doing in this community.”
Added Co-chair Yin Tchen, “We want to thank everyone who came out to support this inaugural event. We are still overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and generosity for the Mama’s House mission. We are grateful to the staff at Indian Wells Country Club, as well as, all the volunteers who made this event successful.
A field of 62 golfers played on the renowned Cove Course, a par-72 classic designed by the Club’s Founder, Eddie Susalia and Ted Robinson, Jr. “Indian Wells Country Club was the original home of the Bob Hope Classic for approximately 40 years,” said Paul Cox, Director of Golf at Indian Wells Country Club.”
The golf tournament for ladies and gentlemen began with a traditional Shotgun Scramble at 9:00 am. Taking home honors for the ladies in first, second and third place were Karen Alton, Mary Siles, and Karen Issaacs. For the men, Aia Newton, Bob Siles, and Chris Astorga took first, second, and third place honors.
Emcee Andy Ford, a new Mama’s House Board member, welcomed the close to 200 dinner guests. The Saturday evening soiree commenced with a cocktail reception, followed by a scrumptious Italian-themed dinner. The high energy “Rat Pack Live and Swingin” dinner show, underwritten by IFS Inforsure International, featured the nostalgic music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. Guests were transported back in time, thoroughly enjoying the songs, humor, and camaraderie of the show, while dancing to familiar songs.
“We all worked hard to make this event an outstanding success,” said Co-chair Dr. Vincent Nola. “I am certain that our goal of most memorable event was accomplished through a lot of hard work and determination. We have set a precedence for golfers who played in the tournament and for guests who attended the dinner show.”
Major event sponsors included Pacific Business Sales, IFS Inforsure International, Wexler Insurance, DavidSW, JR Thomas Golf Carts, La Quinta Cadillac, Elite Fundraising Solutions, Ben Bridge Jewelers, Raymond Weil, Anne Silverstein, Peter Asten (in memoriam), Bill & Lynn Poland, and Pacific Premier Bank.
Media sponsors included Presenting Sponsor THE DESERT SUN & LOCALiQ, KESQ News Channel 3, and Alpha Media – Palm Springs.
Seen in the crowd of golfers and dinner guests were Art Lupia, Patricia & Jack McDonnell, Mary & Bob Siles, John & Trisha Flavio, Howard & Sandra Lincoln, Bill & Cerisa Grunau, Jerry Upham, Brett & Mary Coor, Bill & Lynn Poland, Barbara & Naz Noujaim, Maurae Quigley, Desiree & Jared Portolesi, Rocky & Debbie Dilucchio, Chuck & Jan Emanuele, Jay & Java Marshall, and Valerie & Bobby Facchino.
Please Save the Date of Friday, March 24, 2023 for the Mama’s House Second Annual Charity Golf Classic & Dinner Show, featuring Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.
For more information on Mama’s House, its Expansion Program and Capital Campaign, visit www.themamashouse.org or call 844-232-8622 ext.1 or 760-406-3413.
