Over 100 Golf Players Participated in the 5th GFDD Golf Tournament Held in New York

More than 100 golf players participated in the 5th Golf Tournament sponsored by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) at Fresh Meadow Country Club in Long Island, New York, on September 29th. The tournament, which took place in a fun atmosphere and a perfect weather for playing golf, is part of GFDD’s initiatives to share time with partners and friends and, at the same time, promote fundraising to continue its efforts to implement a variety of
projects geared toward the development of the Dominican Republic and Latin America. The kickoff of the tournament was conducted by Dominican world-famous former baseball player Juan Marichal.

Over 100 golf players and GFDD friends enjoyed a full day of activities
that included not only the tournament but a gala dinner that was attended by the former President of the Dominican Republic and President of GFDD and FUNGLODE, Leonel Fernández.

In the morning, Natasha Despotovic, Executive Director of GFDD, opened the tournament with a special word of thanks to the athletes for attending this charitable activity that was being held for the fifth time in the United States. “I am very pleased to see the faces of many old friends
who have participated in past editions, and I would also like to welcome those who have joined us for the first time.” Then, Despotovic announced the kickoff by Marichal, who is a long-standing GFDD and FUNGLODE contributor and friend.

Hours later, GFDD organized a gala dinner to present the awards to the winners and to acknowledge and thank the important work of the partners, sponsors and friends of the institution. After GFDD’s Executive Director
welcoming remarks, an institutional video of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development and a video that showed images from the recently held tournament were screened.

Rudy Fuentes, Tournament Director and GFDD sponsor, also took the floor to thank GFDD partners and contributors for
supporting initiatives that benefit all Dominicans, not just those in the country but also the diaspora worldwide.

TOURNAMENT WINNERS
Next, the Tournament Technical Director, Willy Pumarol, after highlighting that this year a new record for participation had been set, with a number that exceeded 100 participants, announced the winners:

• First Place Gross Division: Dorian Vargas and Carlos
  Rodríguez
• First Net Place: Mario Hidalgo and Julio Cohen
• Second Net Place: Ricardo Bonnet and Alex Rodríguez
• Third Net Place: Javier Gómez and Gabriel Esteves
• Fourth Net Place: Glen Sasone and Ralph Bonabi
• Fifth Net Place: Johny Rodríguez and RJ Coco
• Longest / Strongest Drive: Matt Derupo
• Hole 4: René de la Cruz
• Hole 7:
  Andrés Marranzini
• Hole 11: Dess Coombes
• Hole 13: Richard Romanoff
• Hole 15: Rafael Díaz

Dr. Fernández presented the awards to those who took the first places in the event. Trophies are the work of renowned Dominican artist José Ignacio Morales, known as “El
Artístico”.

Among the guests at the dinner, in addition to legendary athlete Juan Marichal and his wife, were: the President of National Supermarkets Association, David Corona; Jonathan Abad, co-owner of General Trading; and, the Founder, President and CEO of Nebraskaland, Richard Romanoff, as well as a representative of Derly Farm. Also present were Rodolfo Fuertes, Marco Herrera and Luis Manuel Bonetti.

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, 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.