$250,000 raised at Thomas Miller charity golf day

The Thomas Miller (Americas) Inc, Play for Pink Golf Day took place this week at the Forsgate Country Club in New Jersey and raised a record $250,000, making a total of just under $750k in the four years of the event. 108 players representing a broad spectrum of companies in the maritime community contributed their dollars to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and enjoyed beautiful 25'C late summer temperatures over a gruelling 18 holes. 

Play for Pink, partnering with Thomas Miller (Americas) Inc, is a grassroots organisation dedicated to raising funds to fight breast cancer through lifestyle and sporting events and 100% of all proceeds benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  Thomas Miller (Americas) Inc., an insurance services company and managers of two maritime and freight insurance mutuals; UK P&I Club is celebrating its 150^th Anniversary and TT Club its 50^th.

It is a corporate golf day with a difference, which is becoming a much loved institution.   The generosity of hosts, Members of the mutuals, Brokers, Attorneys and Industry experts, is making a real difference in the fight against breast cancer. Over the four years the event has been held, nearly three-quarters of a million dollars has now been raised and its popularity is such that Thomas Miller is confident that Play for Pink will be a feature of the sporting calendar for many years to come.

Mike Jarrett, president of Thomas Miller (Americas) Inc thanked all the sponsors and participants, "We are proud to be able to bring together the maritime community in North America to help research into the eradication of breast cancer; a blight that has touched us all either directly or indirectly.  The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is one of the foremost organizations in the fight against cancer and holds an A+ rating from Charity Watch. 91 cents of every dollar raised is directed towards Breast Cancer research."

Thanks are due in particular to the donors of the three major prizes in the Grand Raffle; Paul Hehir of Royal Caribbean Cruises for a Cruise to Alaska ; George Chalos of Chalos and Co for two weekends in Park City, Utah and Skip Keesal of Keesal Young and Logan for the Long Beach Grand Prix tickets and round trip airfares.

Among the shipping companies represented in the tournament and generously supporting the cause were: Foremost Maritime, NY; Phoenix Bulk Carriers, Rhode Island; Seaboard Marine, Miami; OEC Group, NY; Dunlap Towing, Seattle; Disney Cruise Line. Florida; MSC, NJ; Canfornav, Montreal; Bouchard Transportation, NY; Maersk Line, NJ; US Shipping, NJ; Harley Marine, Seattle; Diamond S Shipping, Connecticut; Hapag Lloyd, NJ. Many others from the broker community, attorneys and consultants also supported the fund-raising efforts.

Stuart Edmonston, the UK Club Head of Loss Prevention and an accomplished bagpipes player, serenaded the golfers in the morning and then later at the dinner attended by 170. 

Al Bergeron, President / CEO of US Shipping, congratulated the tournament winners and presented the prizes to the team from Phelps Dunbar.

The fundraising efforts will not end here and will be on-going.  The organization of each annual event and recruiting of sponsors begins in May each year and the 2020 Play for Pink Golf Day is already on the calendar for October 6th  "The maritime sector in this part of the world is as altruistic as any industry group," comments Jarrett, "And we look forward to even greater participation in support of this tremendously worthwhile charity next year."