PARSIPPANY, N.J. — May 31, 2017 — Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc. (DDNJ) is pleased to announce today that the 27th Annual Delta Dental of New Jersey (DDNJ) Golf Classic raised more than $60,000 for Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ), a nonprofit organization that provides sports training and athletic competition to children and adults with intaellectual disabilities. This year’s event set a record for funds raised and the annual event has raised a total of more than $1.16 million for SONJ since 1990.
“We are proud of our decades-long commitment to helping Special Olympics New Jersey make dreams come true for so many talented Special Olympic athletes,” said Randy Stodard, Vice President and CMO, DDNJ. “We want to thank all the golfers, sponsors, and volunteers who have enabled these athletes to participate in the individual and team sports that they are passionate about.”
For the second consecutive year, the Golf Classic was held at Ballyowen Golf Club in Hamburg, N.J., on May 19. Among the golfers in the tournament were three SONJ athletes, including Dane Klewsaat, who provided a deeply personal connection to the event’s mission by teeing off with each group playing the 9th hole and discussing his passion for participating with SONJ to achieve his goals.
“With another successful Delta Dental golf outing, the funds raised will help 2,500 athletes compete at the Summer Games from June 9th – 11th, as well as training and competition events throughout the year,” stated Heather Anderson, President and CEO, Special Olympics New Jersey. “The funds help cover equipment, uniforms, meals and housing costs incurred by Special Olympics New Jersey so that we can continue to provide free competition to our athletes year-round.”
Following the round of golf, participants had the opportunity to hear from several SONJ athletes, who spoke about the significant impact SONJ has had on their lives. Funds were raised by sponsors, DDNJ’s employees, golfers, and raffles.
Brown & Brown Benefit Advisors, New Jersey Dental Association, and Summit Medical Group were lead Platinum Sponsors. 8 West Consulting, BLUE449, Greenberg Traurig, and MWWPR were Gold Sponsors.
About Special Olympics New Jersey
Special Olympics New Jersey provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in 24 Olympic-type sports for more than 25,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, completely free of charge, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Visit www.sonj.org for more information.
About Delta Dental
Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc. is New Jersey’s leading dental benefits company, providing or administering coverage to more than 1.6 million people through contracts with groups in New Jersey and Connecticut. In Connecticut, Delta Dental of Connecticut, Inc. is a newly licensed insurer that writes dental coverage on an insured basis, and Delta Dental of New Jersey administers self-funded dental benefit programs. For more information, visit www.deltadentalnj.com.
