Golf Enthusiasts and Celebrities Raise $750K at the 24th Annual Ultimate Golf Experience

The 24th annual Ultimate Golf Experience brought together a standout array of entertainers, guests, and friends of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for a premier golfing event to raise funds in the fight against cystic fibrosis.

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More than 200 supporters gathered Oct. 24-28 in Naples, Fla., for the 2018 Ultimate Golf Experience (UGE), which raised more than $750,000. Among the guests were celebrities who have remained dedicated to the fight against CF for several decades -- including Grammy Award-winning comedian Lewis Black and acclaimed country music singer and songwriter Victoria Shaw.

Black, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Celebrity Ambassador and UGE host, became involved 24 years ago at the request of comedian Rosie O'Donnell, whose nephew has CF. Since then, he has attended every UGE event and is an advocate for those living with the disease, bringing numerous friends from the entertainment industry to perform with him over the years.

2018-UGE-Povich-Black-Kostis-Peace
From left to right: Maury Povich, Lewis Black, Peter Kostis, and Dave Peace.

Shaw, who has been involved with the CF Foundation since 1998, has been performing at UGE for nearly 11 years and sang, “One Heart at a Time,” a song she wrote for the Foundation, along with Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr. Shaw and Black were joined by other entertainers and celebrities, including comedians Kathleen Madigan and Jeff Stilson who performed light-hearted comedy for the audience.

“We are grateful for the unyielding support of all those who continue to turn out to UGE each year, helping advance our mission and make a difference in the lives of those living with CF,” said Marc Ginsky, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the CF Foundation. “We have made a lot of progress, but we will not be satisfied until every person with CF is helped -- until we find a cure.”

The night was filled with poignant remarks from the CF community, including from Wells Clark, an 18-year-old living with CF and UGE ambassador, who gave the Bid for a Cure speech with his father, Perry. Perry conveyed how significant UGE is to their family and their hope for the future. Another special moment came when Robin Treadway, UGE auctioneer, was awarded the 2018 Champion for a Cure award for donating his time and talent to the Foundation for 30 years. The evening ended with karaoke hosted by Matt Iseman, host of the TV series, “American Ninja Warrior,” and Matt Rogers, country singer, TV show personality, and father of a person with CF.

2018-UGE-Clark-Family
From left to right: Wells Clark, the UGE ambassador, his mother, Kelli, and his father, Perry.

A very special thank you goes out to the following corporations and individuals for their support of this event:

Sponsors

  • AbbVie
  • American Airlines
  • Roche Bros. Supermarkets
  • BJ's Restaurants
  • The Huggins Family
  • Tulsa Friends
  • Allegra Print & Imaging
  • Jeff Dinneen

Chairmen

  • Founding Chairman: David Mount, National Trustee
  • UGE Chairman: Mark Marra from Tulsa, Okla.

The 25th annual UGE event will be held Oct. 16-20, 2019 in Pinehurst, N.C. For more information, please contact Helen Johnson at hjohnson@cff.org or Leah Bell at lbell@cff.org.

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Get Involved | Fundraising
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