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From left: Graham Rosenberg, Brian Cohen and Jonathan Pollack.Supplied
The organizers: Graham Rosenberg, Brian Cohen and Jonathan Pollack
The pitch: Raising $525,000
The cause: North York General Hospital and State of Kindness
Graham Rosenberg, Brian Cohen and Jonathan Pollack have been friends for years as well as long-time supporters of Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital.
The trio were golfing in Muskoka, Ont., when they started talking about organizing another fundraising event. “We said, ‘Wouldn’t it be good to continue supporting another institution?’ ” Mr. Pollack recalled.
Two causes quickly came to mind: North York General Hospital and State of Kindness, a Toronto-based charity that offers scholarships and mentoring programs.
Mr. Rosenberg and Mr. Pollack had connections to North York General. Mr. Rosenberg received life-saving treatment for a heart condition, and he’s now on the hospital foundation’s board of directors. Mr. Pollack’s wife, Sacha Hayward, was treated for breast cancer at the hospital.
Mr. Cohen’s company, State Window Corp., has been involved with State of Kindness for years.
“The three of us said, ‘Let’s do something’,” said Mr. Pollack.
They approached the Öviinbyrd Golf Club in Muskoka, which agreed to host the inaugural Muskoka Invitational last June. A total of 72 players participated and the event raised $525,000 from individual donations and corporate sponsorships.
The proceeds were divided between the heart and breast cancer programs at North York General, and the scholarship fund at State of Kindness.
The friends have already started planning next year’s tournament and they hope to make it an annual outing.
“Who would have thought that we would have been able to do what we did?,” said Mr. Pollack, 54, who added that the amount raised far exceeded their expectations. “Raising money for charity is not always easy, but when it’s a great cause people like to donate.”
