Garden City Casino Raises Funds For Charlie’s Champions Foundation

 

     On Saturday, October 3rd, members from the Garden City Casino hosted a tennis match against the Cold Spring Valley Racquet Club. The two clubs have been playing in similar “inter-club” matches together for many years, but this time, the Casino decided to add a new twist - to use the match as an avenue to raise funds for Charlie’s Champions Foundation. Charlie’s Champions was established by Garden City residents Tara and John Schmitt in the name of their son, Charlie who is currently being treated for Leukemia. The mission of the foundation is to raise awareness and funds to benefit the Cancer Center for Kids at Winthrop University Hospital.

     Despite forecasts calling for a 90 percent chance of rain, the weather cooperated and all 24 matches were played. The GC Casino was fortunate enough to win 15 of these matches but the score was secondary in everyone’s mind. The approximate $4,000 that was raised and the good times shared by all in attendance were far more important than everything else.

     The featured match of the day paired long-time friends John Schmitt and Casino member, Josh Shafran against the top team from Cold Spring Valley. After slugging it out and entertaining a large crowd for almost two hours, the match (with a score of 4-6, 6-5) had to be stopped due to the much delayed torrential rain. The group then took the event indoors where everyone discussed the success of the day while getting to know the most important person in the room, Charlie Schmitt - a true Champion!!!