Golf Outing Raises Thousands For Newtown's Pickering Manor

NEWTOWN, PA — The Newtown Rotary Club in April presented a check for $25,000 to Pickering Manor, a nonprofit, community owned and operated senior living facility located in the heart of Newtown.

Club president Deb Porter joined golf committee chair Paul Salvatore and members of the committee in presenting a check to Pickering’s executive director, David Woodhead, during a special luncheon meeting hosted by Pickering Manor.

The money was raised by the club during its 2024 golf outing held at the Trenton Country Club. The outing is among the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year and has earmarked the proceeds exclusively to Pickering, a nonprofit retirement community owned and operated by the community.

“It is an absolute pleasure and honor to help such a wonderful organization such as Pickering Manor, which is such a staple in our community. We’re just proud to be involved and to support their efforts,” said Salvatore, who co-chairs the outing with Tony Petsis.

“There’s a long history between Rotary and Pickering Manor dating back to when they opened 60 years ago. And there’s a lot of synergy. And we are beyond pleased to bring back the golf outing this year,” he said noting that the golf outing is one the club’s single biggest fundraiser organized by the club.

Over the past 30 years, the club has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Pickering, a community owned facility that provides Independent Living, Personal Care, Rehabilitation, Skilled Nursing and Memory Care options to its clients.

This year’s check will be used - in part - to purchase a waterless steam table for Pickering’s skilled nursing neighborhood, which serves the facility’s most vulnerable residents.

“Quality of life is literally what you’ll be providing our residents with your donation,” said Woodhead. “We need a new steam table. It’s not something sexy, but it is needed for quality of life.”

Previous donations have been used to purchase a “Big Sky” window for Pickering’s memory care unit. Funds in the past were also used to convert rooms in the original manor house into a community center for the cottages.

This year’s golf outing is scheduled to tee off on Monday, June 2 at the Trenton Country Club. The early start scramble format will include a shotgun start, cocktails, lunch and silent auction and awards.

The outing begins with a 10 a.m. shot gun start “so you’ll be home by 5 p.m.,” said Salvatore. “We will have great prizes. Anyone who has played in it before or have had dinner at the Trenton Country Club it’s a treat.”

The outing includes breakfast, golf, lunch, cocktails, a silent auction and prizes. The day begins with registration and a full breakfast at 8:30 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at 10 a.m., cocktails, lunch and a silent auction at 2 p.m. and awards at 3 p.m.

The cost is $1300 per foursome, which includes greens fees, cart, cocktails and meals. The cost is $40 for breakfast only and $80 for lunch only.

To thank the club for its ongoing support, Pickering’s staff treated club members to a complimentary luncheon.

“It is truly our honor and our pleasure to say thank you to all of you,” said Woodhead. “This is always a highlight for Pickering - hosting the Rotary. I never lose sight of the fact that we have been and continue to be the sole recipient of this golf outing. There has been so much that you have done to enhance the lives of our residents. We thank you for making Pickering a priority.”

Added Woodhead, “Over the years, what you have contributed to us and the things we have been able to do with it, has so improved the lives of our residents.”

Salvatore noted that Pickering is owned by the community and operated by the Community Welfare Council. It operates only on operational revenue and fundraising and receives no tax dollars.

“That gives me more reason to put this fundraiser on,” said Salvatore, noting that participants will enjoy a premiere outing while supporting the work of Pickering Manor.

To register for the outing or for information about being a sponsor or donating an item or basket to the silent auction, email salvatorepaul@hotmail.com .

Salvatore said the club is in need of community volunteers on the day of the golf outing to help in the morning prior to tee-off, to watch cars during the outing and to help with the silent auction.