NOTE: The tournament field is currently open and sponsorship opportunities are numerous. Visit the tournament website or call Jerry at 315-345-0256. For more information about sponsorship levels, download the tournament brochure.
The Gerald F. Cowden Memorial Golf Tournament is slated for August 9, 2008 at Camillus County Club. This year's event looks to build on last year's successful tournament, which raised $20,000 for the Alzheimer's Association, Central New York Chapter. In its fourth year of existence, brothers Jerry and Mike Cowden hold this tournament in memory of their father:
In 1998, our father, Gerald F. Cowden (Jerry) was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Our family watched in sadness as this intelligent and proud man gradually lost his memories and ability to enjoy life. Dad’s diagnosis came only four years into a retirement that he had barely begun to enjoy. As with many Alzheimer’s sufferers, while the effects of the Alzheimer’s ravaged his mind, he remained otherwise healthy, physically strong and vigorous. In, following several years of painful decline, our father passed away due to complications associated with his disease. He was 73.
For us, his disease was marked by a succession of setbacks that gave us evidence that the Alzheimer’s was rapidly progressing. These setbacks were often his loss of ability to handle everyday tasks or having to give up doing one of the things he enjoyed. One of the hardest of these setbacks came two years before his death, when it became too difficult for him to continue playing in his Sunday morning foursome, and he reluctantly put his clubs away for the last time.
Alzheimer’s disease steals from everyone - the inflicted as well as their family and friends. Currently, about 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. That number is expected to grow to 16 million by 2050 if no cure is found.
This year, in memory of our father, we are holding a charity golf tournament to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association. The Alzheimer’s Association is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide support to the patients and families affected by this terrible disease. The Alzheimer’s Association provides many greatly needed services such as seminars and support groups, day programs and counseling. The Alzheimer’s Association is also the largest private funder of Alzheimer’s research nationwide.
Come join us for what promises to be a great day of golf, food and fun and help us fight one of the most devastating diseases of our time.
Mike Cowden Jerry Cowden
Murnane Building Contractors, Inc. Sack and Associates, P.C.
2007 Tournament Sponsors
Major Sponsors: Beardsley Design Associates, P.C., Camillus Country Club, The Cowden Family, Delia Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning, Erie Mechanical Contractors, First Niagara Risk Management, Murnane Building Contractors, Summit Ford, Syracuse Thermal Products, Whitacre Engineering Company.
Tee & Green Sponsors: Airtech Heating and Air Conditioning, Anaren Microwave, Anoplate Corporation, Atlas Fence, ARIZONA Rain Gutters & Sun Screens-Steve Malissa, Burns Brothers, Cellectric Electrical Corp., Century Heating and AC Inc., CNY Trane, Comfort Systems USA, Cowden Creative Marketing, Jerry & Ashley Cowden, Mike & Judy Cowden, Cowley Associates, The Darling Family, Kitty & Emil Filkorn, First Niagara Risk Management, Hammond and Irving, Inc., J&A Mechanical Controls, JMG Glass & Glazing, Johnson Controls, Inc./York Int’l, JW Stevens/Blake Equipment, Logos Plus, McQuaid and Bannigan, Inc. (Two Holes), Modular Comfort Systems, Inc., National Grid, Navisite-Matt Teixeira, Plan and Print, Pro-Air Plus, RF Peck Co. Inc., Sabert Insulation, Sack & Associates, Saunders Concrete, Edward Schalk and Son, Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., John Stevenson, Sugarman Law Firm, LLP, Ward Steel Company, Inc., Weeks Engineering, Colleen Wilson Family.
