Student/Partner Alliance Holds Annual Golf Tournament

June 2025 – 116 golfers participated in Bunk’s XIX Annual Golf Tournament to raise funds for the Summit based organization, Student/Partner Alliance (S/PA). The mission of S/PA is to support motivated high school students at private high schools in New Jersey’s urban areas of Essex, Hudson and Union counties with tuition assistance and mentoring to increase their chances for college admission and scholarships, and to lead successful and productive lives.

The tournament took place on June 9, 2025, at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth, NJ and was organized and hosted by S/PA Board Member Bruce Reitz. This year’s tournament raised a record amount of over $70,000 to provide scholarships for students at Roselle Catholic High School in Roselle, NJ, St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, NJ, St. Vincent Academy in Newark, NJ, St. Dominic Academy in Jersey City, NJ, and Hudson Catholic High School in Jersey City, NJ. Since starting in 2007, the golf events have raised over $620,000. Lead tournament sponsors included Emmett (Board President) & Regina Daly, Vivian & Robert Field, and Christine Waldron (Board Member).

The tournament winners were Eduardo Pena, Jarett Feinman, Tito Flores & Phil Vonthron. Local businesses including Chatham Indoor Golf Club, Galloping Hill Golf Course, Healthy Italia, ShopRite, Smathers & Branson, NY Red Bulls, and the NY Giants all supported the mission by donating generous skill contest and raffle prizes.

Event organizer and seasoned mentor, Bruce Reitz had this to say about S/PA: “The funds raised through the golf outing play a vital role in supporting S/PA scholarships for urban high school students, but what truly sets S/PA apart is our commitment to mentoring. Each student not only receives financial support but also gains a dedicated mentor to guide them throughout their high school journey. This year’s event was especially meaningful, with 10 mentors joining us on the course. We also welcomed two new foursomes, each with a unique connection to S/PA’s mission. One included a golfer who picked up the sport just six months ago—specifically to participate in Bunk’s Golf. I had the privilege of mentoring him, and today, he mentors two students himself. He brought along a high school friend who is also now a mentor. The second new foursome was led by the Dean of Admissions at one of our partner schools. A new golfer himself, he understands firsthand the impact our mentors have on students and was excited to take part in the event.”

To learn more about the role mentoring plays in our community and to find volunteer opportunities with us visit www.studentpartneralliance.org. If you would like to learn more about our program, please contact Kristin Shannon at kshannon@studentpartneralliance.org.