On May 13, Delta Dental of New Jersey (DDNJ)’s 32nd Annual Golf Classic raised a record-breaking $106,000 for Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ). This annual golfing event has netted over $1.6 million over the course of the past three decades, making it possible for thousands of Special Olympics athletes to pursue their athletic dreams through year-round sports training and competition.
Delta Dental’s generous support has enabled thousands of children and adults with intellectual disabilities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and form lifelong friendships.
“Because of this very special event, Special Olympics athletes can continue to strive for athletic excellence and a healthy competitive spirit, becoming the athletes they’ve always dreamed of becoming. With over 24 Olympic-type sports to choose from, the opportunities are endless,” said Lori Acker, DDNJ’s Senior Vice President of Operational Transformation and SONJ Board of Trustees chairperson. “We’re proud to have such a long-standing history supporting such a tremendous organization.”
Steve Adubato, Emmy-award winning anchor/columnist/author served as event emcee. He, along with Dennis Wilson, President and CEO of DDNJ, and Eamonn Franklin, Joint CEO at 8West, who traveled from Ireland to join the event, were among the 90 golfers who participated in this event at Essex Fells Country Club.
Summit Health | City MD served as the event’s Presenting Healthy Golfer Sponsor. Other key sponsors included Atlantic Health System as the event’s Featured Sponsor, 8West as Special Sponsor, along with Brown and Brown Insurance, Great Blue Research, MikeWorldWide, New Jersey Dental Association, and Safari Solutions that served as Platinum Sponsors.
Raffle prizes included gifts that Delta Dental purchased from New Jersey small businesses to support small business and provide a platform to highlight the many goods and services New Jersey has to offer for leisure, adventure, and fun. Dennis Wilson and his wife Dona were once again the event’s Supporting Small Businesses sponsor. Golfer gifts were PUMA gift cards. PUMA was onsite at the event and each golfer redeemed their gift card during the event’s luncheon, getting to select from an array of PUMA merchandise, including golf shoes, apparel, and more.
“For over 32 years Special Olympics New Jersey has benefitted from our partnership with Delta Dental. Their commitment to athletes like Dane & Ben, who joined us at this year’s Delta Dental Golf Classic, as well as through year-round engagement, help support thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities throughout the Garden State,” said Heather Anderson, President & CEO, Special Olympics New Jersey. “Through their untiring dedication, Delta Dental has made a difference, which has opened hearts to a wider world of human talent and potential.”
Photo highlights from this year’s Golf Classic can be viewed in our designated Flickr album.
About Delta Dental
Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc. is New Jersey’s leading dental benefits company, providing or administering coverage to more than 1.9 million people through contracts with groups and individuals in New Jersey and Connecticut. In Connecticut, Delta Dental of Connecticut, Inc. is a licensed insurer that writes dental coverage on an insured basis, and Delta Dental of New Jersey administers self-funded dental benefit programs.
Offering dental benefits since 1969, Delta Dental of New Jersey’s mission is to promote oral health to the greatest number of people by providing accessible dental benefit programs of the highest quality, service, and value. We are a not-for-profit service corporation and, as a member of Delta Dental Plans Association, we’re part of a network that provides national dental coverage to more than 83 million people. For more information, visit DeltaDentalNJ.com.
About Special Olympics New Jersey
For over 50 years, Special Olympics New Jersey has provided year-round sports training and athletic competition in 24 Olympic-type sports for thousands of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, completely free of charge. Through the joy and power of sports, athletes are provided opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Visit www.sonj.org for more information.
Photo: At Delta Dental of New Jersey (DDNJ)’s 32nd Annual Golf Classic, Emmy-award-winning anchor/columnist/author Steve Adubato, Dennis Wilson, President and CEO of DDNJ, and Lori Acker, DDNJ’s Senior Vice President of Operational Transformation and SONJ Board of Trustees chairperson, pose for a quick photo with a Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ) golfer.
