Gabby Petito Foundation To Hold Fundraiser Sunday On Long Island

HOLTSVILLE, NY — The Gabby Petito Foundation is holding a golf outing fundraiser Sunday at Topgolf in Holtsville.

The outing will run from 1 to 4 p.m. and will feature a buffet, as well as wine and beer, and raffles.

Foundation treasurer Gary Rider said Thursday organizers will still be able to accept visitors at the gate, but that spots for golfers are quickly filling up.

Organizers expect a lot of people are coming to the event for food and drinks, as well as the raffles only, "and we still have some space to accommodate them," Rider said, adding, "We are getting very limited on golfers and expect to be sold out shortly."

"The response to the raffles has been huge," he said.

Raffles are still available for purchase and those who cannot attend, can still donate by going to the foundation’s web page.

“We're just hoping for a great day with it,” said Petito’s stepfather, Jim Schmidt, a member of the foundation's board of directors, in an interview earlier this month. “We appreciate all the support from everybody, and the money, that's going to a good cause.”

The foundation was formed with the mission of helping other families find their missing loved ones. In the months after its formation, Petito's family has continued to work to help find missing persons by using their social media status to highlight the cases of the missing.

The fundraiser will feature an array of raffle items, including a custom-design surfboard featuring the foundation's logo from Delray Surf Designs and a $150 gift certificate from My Custom Sports Chair of Ontario, Canada.

Artwork slated for the raffle includes a painting of the Beatles called “Let it Be,” honoring Petito's favorite song, as well as a whiskey barrel donated by Antiques and Collectibles in Patchogue that was designed by artist Tess Parker, who created the mural featuring Petito's likeness in Blue Point.

Sports memorabilia includes an Islanders jersey signed by Ryan Pulock, a Jets football signed by Zach Wilson and a helmet signed by Leonard Williams, a Buffalo Bills Jersey signed by Tremaine Edmunds, a framed Yankees photograph signed by Don Mattingly, and a batting practice experience for a regular-season home game, as well as a baseball signed by the Mets' Brandon Nimmo.

Other items include baskets of cheer from Houdek’s Wines and Liquors in Bayport and This and That Gifts in St. James, as well as a shirt, recorder, music book, and a gift certificate for two music lessons from Family Melody Center in Patchogue. A Michael Kelly Guitar Co. electric guitar, including a strap and guitar picks from Sam Ash Music Stores in Huntington Station will also be included in the raffle.

Clothing items featured in the mural include Vans sneakers and a New Era cap from Atlas Skateboarding, as well as custom sneakers from Las Vegas Mache.

In a video posted to the foundation's Facebook page earlier this month, Petito's father, Joseph Petito, said that there will also be a 50/50 raffle and a long drive contest "to see who could turn around and outdrive me, so that's going to be interesting."

"Not to mention all this is going to go to benefit the domestic violence issue that we have here, as well as the missing person issue that we have here," he said. "It should be a great time. I hope to see everyone there."

Gabby Petito, a Blue Point native, disappeared in August on a cross-country trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, who returned to his parents' home in Florida in her van, but without her. After a massive interstate search, involving multiple law enforcement agencies, Petito was found strangled to death near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on Sept. 19 — eight days after she was reported missing by her mother.

She was confirmed dead on Sept. 21.

Laundrie, who had refused to speak with police after Petito was reported missing, drove to a Florida preserve where investigators believe he shot himself in the head. His remains were found about one month later.

The foundation made large donations, including one for $23,000 to Suffolk County Vibes to help support their anti-violence mission, as well as a $2,300 donation to another Suffolk-based domestic violence shelter for new equipment, in honor of what would have been Petito's 23rd birthday on March 19.

For more information about Sunday's fundraiser, go to www.gabbypetitofoundation.org, the only website authorized to accept donations for the foundation.

Related Stories:

• Laundrie Attorney Calls Petito Family's Lawsuit 'Frivolous': Report
• Gabby Petito's Birthday Remembered By Domestic Violence Donations
• Brian Laundrie's Parents Knew Gabby Petito Was Dead: Family
• Gabby Petito's Family Highlight Domestic Violence On Valentine's
• 'No Doubt' Brian Laundrie Killed Gabby Petito: Family Attorney
• Gabby Petito Remembered By Parents On New Year's Eve
• Laundries To Give Gabby Petito's Belongings To Family: Attorney
• Gabby Petito Utah Probe Info To Be Released Soon: Report
• Gabby Petito's Family's Poignant Messages Of Hope On Christmas
• NBC's Peacock TV Streams Documentary On Gabby Petito Case Friday
• Gabby Petito Foundation Plans Scholarships On Long Island
• Be Inspired': Gabby Petito's Dad At Long Island Memorial Service
• 'Not Just Gabby Petito' Case Deserves Media Attention: Dad
• Suffolk Detective Who Opened Gabby Petito's Case An 'Angel': Mom