Clothing Our Kids 10th Annual Golf Tournament

Celebrating an important milestone in its 10-year history, the COK Golf Tournament occurred on a sunny yet blustery day Monday October 14. The 127 Golfers who signed up for the event were not deterred by the winds off the Indian River Bay sweeping across the incomparable Peninsula Golf Course. It’s a tough one made more difficult by the wind gusts that day. Gino Magliano, a 14-year-old resident of the Peninsula and a Sussex County Middle School student, competed with each of the Golfers in a closest-to-the-tee-shot competition on the 9th hole. COK’s motto is: “It’s All About the Kids”, and Gino sits in class with those needing our help.

COK truly appreciates the generosity of the 70 Sponsors (Annual Golf Outing Sponsors 2024 ) who supported its largest annual fundraiser. Some have been consistent partners since the beginning like Tournament Trustee Schell Brothers/Ocean Atlantic and Corporate Booster Tidemark Federal Credit Union, along with new ones such as Tait’s Barbershop.  Their combined contributions will cover half of the organization’s yearly clothing budget. Coincidentally, the COK Volunteer Center reached an all new high in distributing almost 8,500 items of clothing in the month of September alone and that does not include those stocking the High School closets. We have a tough year ahead of us.

All in attendance were thrilled to have our brilliant Founder Mary Rio with husband John send off the Golfers alongside three-year Golf Chair Mike Wezel who also serves as the charity’s Treasurer. Mike has done an exemplary job leading a team of over 50 Volunteers who assisted with the preparation for and hosting the day of the event. Also in attendance were the Cape Henlopen High School Homeless Liaison Craig Warrington and Teacher Stephanie Collick letting Golfers know the impact COK has made to their students in our first year of supporting the upper classes. CHHS receives emergency government funds for shelter and food but nothing for clothing. That’s where COK fits in.