GFDD Golf Tournament - Miami 2015 (Awards Ceremony Included)

More than 70 players joined us yesterday for our VII GFDD Golf Tournament, celebrated at the Turnberry Isle Golf course in Miami, Florida. Dr. Leonel Fernández, President of GFDD/Funglode, Mr. Juan Marichal, Major League Baseball great, and Natasha Despotovic, GFDD Executive Director, gave the welcoming remarks and kicked off the tournament. The tournament, already a GFDD tradition, was attended by leading figures from the philanthropic field, prominent sports figures, and other friends who through the years have supported GFDD’s programs, which seek to foster social, economic, democratic, and cultural advancement in the Dominican Republic and throughout the Western Hemisphere. Players were welcomed by GFDD Executive Director, Natasha Despotovic, who appreciated the support offered to the foundation and its work. “We hope you like our projects, and we hope you will continue to be a member of our big, worldwide community”, she conveyed. President of GFDD/Funglode, Dr. Leonel Fernández, officially kick-started the event. After the tournament, players and friends of GFDD attended the award ceremony and gala dinner. Despotovic welcomed them and thanked all the sponsors that contributed to the success of the event. After a video presentation of GFDD’s 2014 highlights and a video showing the best shots of the VII Tournament, Ricardo Jacobo, Torunament´s Director and GFDD collaborator, highlighted the academic and cultural contribution provided by the foundation. He also expressed thanks for the support received from the players and sponsors, which exceeded revenue targets set for this edition of the tournament, the second one held in the city of Miami, Florida. Willy Pumarol, Technical Director of the tournament, was in charge of the announcement of the winners in the various categories. The tournaments are part of GFDD’s initiatives to engage supporters while promoting fundraising efforts. The funds raised are applied to GFDD’s continued research to design public policies and develop strategies to build capacity in the crucial areas of social, economic, democratic, and cultural sustainable development in the Dominican Republic and the Western Hemisphere. The objective of this event is to benefit the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its projects and programs promoting social, economic and democratic development in the Dominican Republic. GFDD is a private, 501(c)3, US registered not for profit, non-partisan organization, dedicated to promoting collaboration between international institutions and the Dominican Republic, conducting research and analysis, providing educational and training programs and implementing development and exchange opportunities for Dominicans in the country and the diaspora, in areas critical to the advancement and modernization of the Dominican Republic. Awards per category: Close to the Pin in pairs 3, Hole #3, winner Vladimir Baez Hole #7, winner Andrés Marranzini Hole #13, winner Tom Buttler Hole #15, winner Alejandro Martínez Winners of the Longest/Strongest Drive of the tournament Hole #18, winner Julio A. Paredes Announcement of the winners: Willy Pumarol, Tournament Technical Director Special Awards: 1st place Gross Grand Champion of the GFDD trophy DJ and Manoj B., 61 points 2nd place net score goes to Andrés Marranzini, 63 points 3rd place net score goes to the team made of José Cárdenas and Álvaro Puche, 66 points 4th place net score goes to the team made of Salim Chraibi and Stephan Cantari, 66 points 5th place net score goes to the team made of Rafael Gallardo and Julio Paredes, 66 points 6th place net score goes to Chris McNeil More information: www.gfddgolf.org