Programs Raise Public Awareness, Help Injured Servicemen and Women with Unique Needs,
and Build “Smart Homes” for Military Men and Women Returning Home With Devastating Injuries
More than 240 Broken Sound Club members and their guests hit the green to “chip in” to raise more than $60,000 to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and Tunnel to Towers Foundation in partnership with the Gary Sinese Foundation at the community’s third annual “Golf For America’s Bravest” tournament. Participants had the choice to make donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, Tunnel to Towers, or both; this year’s total reflects a 273% increase from the $22,000 raised from last year’s tournament.
Broken Sound Club Resident and Club Member Sal Caragliano and his wife Wendy founded the annual tournament to benefit the national Wounded Warrior Project with the help of fellow club members, retired Col. Ed West and Seena Bilaow, after learning from his son-in-law Ben Harrow that a friend of his had lost both his legs and almost his life in Afghanistan in 2011. Just three months after the second tournament, Harrow, a decorated soldier himself, stepped on a live IED while on duty and was severely injured. While originally held to benefit the “Wounded Warrior Project”, the event expanded this year to also support the on-going efforts made by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in partnership with the Gary Sinese Foundation to build customized “smart homes” for adapted to address the individual needs of the most severely injured U.S. military personnel.
The awards luncheon at the conclusion of the tournament featured Frank Siller, chair of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation; wounded veteran Ben Harrow, a West Point graduate, Army Captain and Green Beret (with three Bronze Stars) who is the son-in-law of tournament founder and Broken Sound Club members Sal and Wendy Caragliano; and Roland Loynaz, the Green Beret responsible for saving Ben Harrow’s life. Select speakers read Albert Caswell's poems on freedom, bravery, heroism and sacrifice, which were written for co-chair Seena Bialow; CCE, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer John Crean; and Broken Sound Club Director of Golf Scott Feller. Broken Sound Club President Ivan Snyder was presented with Caswell’s work, which includes “Harrowism!”, a poem inspired by Ben Harrow, signed by Jon McCay and Jon Buynar and recorded in the Congressional Record by The Honorable Christopher Gibson of New York.
“Members of Broken Sound Club have tremendous empathy for all members of the armed forces who have been wounded while in action,” said Caragliano. “I’m proud of the overwhelming support and generosity demonstrated to help a diverse group of warriors who have been protecting our country with a record amount of funds raised this year.”
The Wounded Warrior Project raises awareness and enlists the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs to meet their needs. The Tunnel To Towers Foundation – created to honor Stephen Siller, a first responder firefighter hero who raced through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in full gear and later died when the Twin Towers collapsed – launched Building for America’s Bravest with support from the Gary Sinese Foundation. The program constructs Smart Homes for military men and women returning home with devastating injuries such as those sustained by Harrow. Smart Homes are custom designed, on a case-by-case basis, specially adapted to address the individual needs of our most severely injured U.S. military personnel. Building for America’s Bravest helps to restore their ability to live a life of independence and is our way to show profound gratitude for all they have sacrificed.
“Over and over, the Broken Sound Club community has proven to be an exceptional group of humanitarians,” noted CCE, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer John Crean. “So many resident club members are passionate about and engaged in a variety of vital local, national, and international missions that support our US military, medical research, excellence in healthcare, education and welfare of children, pet adoption, the cultural arts, and assistance when disaster hits beyond their own community.”
“Golf For America’s Bravest” tournament play commenced after a presentation by the Color Guard on the driving range at Broken Sound’s Club Course. The more than 240 members and guests were spread across two shotgun starts. The three groups of winners at the tournament were:
• Patten Slight – Played at the Club Course – Won with a score of 64
o Joel Horrowitz, Michael Mendelsohn, Herb Seligson, Peter Stein
• Eisenhower Slight – Played at the Club Course – Won with a score of 60
o Bonnie Rappaport, Marianne Vishno, Adele Russo, Elizabeth Nolan
• Grant Slight – Played at the Old Course at Broken Sound Club – Won with a score of 62
o Alberto Mendoza, William Vishno, Arthur Friedman, Dr. Lawrence Moses
“When one community rushes to the aid of another, in this case our military community, it launches a contagious benefit to all involved,” said Frank Siller. “It helps to not only raise awareness and funds at a given moment, but exponentially grows an organization’s message echo through their families, friends and colleagues in a very personal ‘on the ground’ way that significantly supersedes any ad or promotional campaign. On behalf of all the U.S. military we serve, we so appreciate Broken Sound Club’s dedication to our organization in trumpeting our mission.”
About Broken Sound Club:
Whatever one’s passion or interest…their active enviable home life, business life, sporting life, and social life complement each other perfectly at Broken Sound Club. Known as the “friendly” club for its signature blend of warmth, elegance and genuine hospitality, this award-winning private gated golf and country club community offers a choice of 27 lushly landscaped intimate residential villages, each with its own character. All are just minutes away from its main clubhouse with indoor and outdoor dining, two Audubon Sanctuary certified signature golf courses (one host to the PGA Champions Tour season opener), a new two-acre $6 million poolscape with bistro, a new $7 million 35,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, and 23 tennis courts. This 5-Star Platinum Club of America is conveniently close to two international airports, and just a few miles from the private Boca Raton Executive Airport, Boca’s burgeoning Class A office parks and vibrant Downtown, pristine beaches, A-rated public and award-winning private schools, two universities, sports arenas and stadiums, and an exciting world of shopping, dining, art and culture, recreation, and nightlife.
About Wounded Warrior®:
The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is to honor and empower wounded warriors. WWP’s purpose is to raise awareness and to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs to meet their needs. WWP is a national nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more visit, www.woundedwarriorproject.org
About Tunnel to Towers Foundation:
The sole purpose is to honor the legacy of love given by Stephen Siller, FDNY, who laid down his life on 9/11, by following Stephen’s footsteps of selflessness and love by “doing good” in his memory. The Foundation has established “In the Line of Duty” programs for Firefighters, First Responders, and Military and “Legacy of Love” programs to make a lasting and positive difference in the lives of children who have lost one or both parents. To achieve our mission, the Foundation is committed to the following initiatives: The Tunnel to Towers Run and Building for America’s Bravest in partnership with the Gary Sinese Foundation. Through Building for America’s Bravest, the torch held by Stephen and his fellow fallen brothers on 9/11 has been passed on to those who serve in the Armed Services. The program constructs Smart Homes for military returning home with devastating injuries. Smart Homes are custom designed, on a case-by-case basis, specially adapted to address the individual needs of our most severely injured U.S. military personnel. Building for America’s Bravest helps to restore their ability to live a life of independence and is our way to show our profound gratitude for all they have sacrificed.
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