Skyline’s 17th Golf Classic Drives Generous Giving and Community Spirit
- eva_hatzaki
- 22 hours ago
- 7 min read
With nearly $328,000 raised, the 2025 Annual Golf Classic by The Skyline Charitable Foundation showcases the power of partnership, philanthropy, and perseverance — all under the summer sun.
PHOTOS: THANASSI KARAGEORGIOU
Clockwise from top left: VFW Post 1819 of Port Washington members perform a rifle salute for the fallen; Golfers watch the ceremony that precedes the tee-off each year; Closest to The Pin winner Rygo Foss, Esq., board member, TSCF with Shana McCormick, executive director, TSCF; Most Honest Foursome Winners: Manuel Trejo, project manager, Skyline Restoration; Paul Losito, senior estimator, Skyline Restoration.
Exuberant. Energized. Excited. Such were the buoyant spirits that over 180 golfers plus the evening’s attendees brought to Long Island’s Old Westbury Golf and Country Club on June 23, 2025 for the 17th annual Golf Classic benefiting The Skyline Charitable Foundation (TSCF). The rewards of the day reaped more cheers once the funds raised were totaled.
Shana McCormick, executive director of TSCF and an organizer of the Golf Outing, said, “For the past three years we’ve consistently exceeded $300K – this year’s total, almost $328K, surpassed last year’s! We’re growing strong! This is so valued at a time when individual and corporate giving is more important than ever in the current philanthropic landscape.”
Though held during the early summer heat wave, players and participants were undaunted by mercury’s climb. Credit for the success goes to the painstaking preparation of McCormick, the Golf Committee and the team at Old Westbury Golf Course.
The Skyline team made sure to equip each golf cart with coolers filled with ice water, gave each foursome a fan to attach to their cart, posted extra hydration stations along the way, handed out cooling towels, and repeatedly announced ‘Stay Hydrated!’
A Committee of Thought Partners
Careful planning marked every step of the Golf Outing. The Committee’s diligence began in February and continued through bi-monthly meetings up to the event.
“It was a committee of thought partners. We discussed ways to improve upon prior years, outreached to the venue, to Skyline personnel, sponsors and others who had attended before as well as new prospects,” said McCormick.
The Committee, led by McCormick, consisted of Skyline Restoration’s Spiro Markatos, Jasen Geraghty, Stephan Andreatos, Tim Pasparakis, Danny Cornwell, and William Laffey of Spring Scaffolding.
Said Skyline Restoration President Spiro Markatos, “Skyline’s Golf Classic has grown over the years into a tradition that is extremely popular and highly respected as a well-run, key event eagerly anticipated each summer. Skyline is proud to host it, to always involve personnel on all levels and to welcome the industry. We put a lot of thought and effort into the planning process that culminates in a hugely successful event. Of course, as a fundraiser, the commitment extends beyond the Skyline community and the industry to the worthwhile charities it is dedicated to supporting - our beneficiaries are the engine that drives it all.”
PHOTOS: THANASSI KARAGEORGIOU
Clockwise from top left: Winners: Longest Putt, Kate Groob, CANY; Men’s Longest Drive, Anthony Meo, Skyline Restoration; Women’s Longest Drive, Laylakshi Deonarine, daughter of Dev Deonarine, 4D Construction and Dani Taylor, The Trump Organization.
Kudos from All
The efforts were recognized and applauded by all – sponsors, golfers, attendees of the evening cocktail hour and dinner, and beneficiaries.
Keith Cornish, director of construction practice, The Baldwin Group, has attended the outing for about 10 years and admired it as “a topnotch event that is very well run.” This time, his firm opted for the top tier of sponsorship – Tournament Level. It was a natural fit.
Said Cornish, “Our company prides itself on community support.” Noting that The Baldwin Group, an insurer, is a relatively new firm, he noted, “This event gives us great visibility. Our foursome’s team made several new connections.”
He also appreciated Skyline’s recognition at the dinner, signage at the course, and the plaque received.
In addition to sponsorships, many unique items of collectors’ memorabilia were contributed to the silent auction. Donated raffle prizes included a 65” QLED Samsung TV, a Magnum electric bike, and a Solo Stove Bonfire.
Praise from Players and Participants
Mike Lopez, director of technical service architectural engineering for Rimkus and the treasurer of the New York chapter of IIBEC, the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants, is a loyal and longtime golfer at Skyline’s outings.
He said, “We love the tradition, support the causes wholeheartedly, and are glad to have the opportunity to interact with everyone at Skyline” from leadership through field staff and other personnel. “It’s a chance to see them outside of the project site and to meet in person people we usually don’t see.”
Kathleen Needham-Inoco, P.E., principal with Midtown Preservation, has participated for many years. She enjoyed every aspect of the event, the “beautiful golf course, the topnotch food, and the wide representation of vendors, tradespeople, professionals, materials representatives and more that Skyline draws. To see the camaraderie outside of the normal work environment is great.”
She also expressed her admiration for Skyline Restoration saying, “We like to support a company that always rises to the need –It lobbies against fraud, it helped during the pandemic. We love to support people who go above and beyond to help the community. I feel passionate about it when people go out of their way to make the work better, the industry better, the community. I support it and the Midtown Preservation family wholeheartedly supports it. That’s why we return every year.”
PHOTOS: THANASSI KARAGEORGIOU
Clockwise from top left: Christine Crowther, executive director, The New York Center for Children; Joe Farinacci, executive director, ALS Watchdawgs; Shana McCormick, executive director, The Skyline Charitable Foundation; Joshua Sooklal, military & veteran program manager, Hope For The Warriors (HOPE).
The Charities – A Varied and Deserving Group
As always, the charities are varied, carefully chosen and deserving.
RAP4Bronx
McCormick updated all on the progress of RAP4Bronx which is administered by TSCF. Founded in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, the nonprofit organization has evolved from providing emergency food access to promoting food equity. It continues to offer free of charge nutritious grocery staples and locally sourced produce to communities that find nutritious items challenging to access and afford.
“To date, RAP4Bx has distributed close to five million pounds of food. We continue to provide access to healthier goods to communities in need of assistance,” said McCormick.
The Chordoma Foundation
Kenny Brighton, head of philanthropy, The Chordoma Foundation, sent an update that was read by McCormick at the dinner.
Skyline Restoration co-founder Bill Pierrakeas who died from Chordoma was an ardent supporter of the Foundation and its research to combat the aggressive disease that currently has few treatment options. Brighton wrote that “[Bill] was committed to creating a world in which all patients could access treatments that offer a real chance at survival. While we’re not there yet, these projects—made possible by your generosity—are bringing us closer to the future Bill envisioned.”
Brighton credited funds from last year’s Golf Tournament with helping the research that enabled a clinical trial of an experimental drug that has already shown “an extraordinary response rate” in tumor shrinkage. The Foundation is also leading the global effort to build molecular compounds for a drug that hopes to target Chordoma and potentially benefit the broader cancer community as well.
The New York Center for Children
Christine Crowther, executive director of The New York Center for Children, said, “This is the tenth year that we’ve been supported by the Skyline Golf Classic and we are thrilled to be here at this beautiful, pleasurable, and so important event once more. The support has helped so many children heal and succeed. It is incredibly impactful in the lives of the children and the families we work with.”
The New York Center for Children is based in Manhattan with offices in all New York City boroughs. It provides holistic trauma-focused therapy free of charge to children who have suffered from any form of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) for as long as needed.
PHOTO: THANASSI KARAGEORGIOU
VFW Post 1819 Port Washington
VFW Post 1819 of Port Washington conducts a ceremony that precedes the tee-off at noon each year: Members parade the American and VFW Post flags, play Taps on bagpipes, and perform a rifle salute for the fallen.
Robert Freeland, commander of the Post, explained that the organization assists veterans in navigating the VA, raises money for organizations including the Navy Seals, Rangers Lead the Way, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and Folds of Honor that in turn help veterans and their families who are homeless or in need. The members of Post 1819 are veterans of foreign wars from WWII (there is one remaining member), the Korean War, Vietnam, and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Extremely grateful for the support, Freeland says, “[TSCF has] been wonderful to us. We love presenting the flag and our guys look forward to coming each year.”
ALS Watchdawgs
Joe Farinacci, executive director of ALS Watchdawgs, explained that the organization is a grassroots nonprofit 501(c)3 started by six firefighters to help those who have been afflicted by ALS. Often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to muscle weakness, paralysis and death. Watchdawgs helps defray costs for ambulatory devices and other medical expenses not covered by insurance.
Farinacci noted that firefighters are twice as likely to suffer from ALS as the average individual. The organization aims to change legislation and policy. He said, “We are working to ensure help when they need assistance, but also to make sure the medical system recognizes that this affliction is job-related so that first responders and their families are protected for life. “We are greatly appreciative of what the Skyline Charitable Foundation has done for our recipients and elated to be part of this great tradition.”
Hope For The Warriors
Joshua Sooklal, military & veteran program manager at Hope For The Warriors (HOPE), noted that the national nonprofit was selected as one of the 2025 event beneficiaries by Skyline Restoration’s Jasen Geraghty. HOPE, which serves active-duty military service members, veterans, and their families, is comprised of a diverse team of financial advisors, career counselors, mental health practitioners, medical clinicians and more.
Sooklal explained that HOPE has three main “pillars of service”: Stability – offering financial, transition and career assistance; Strength –aiding the individual’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being; and Community – peer-to-peer support programs including mentorships. “I appreciate the support,” said Sooklal. “You’re helping my ‘family’ –my brothers and sisters in the military.”
Danielle Rose, Director of Donor Events for HOPE said, “Funds raised support HOPE’s mission to deliver programs and services to military and their families, helping them navigate the complexities of military life. TSCF has allowed us to give the military community what it needs - which is HOPE.”
PHOTOS: THANASSI KARAGEORGIOU
Congratulations to the Winning Foursome 2025:
Florim Bajaraktari; A.J Rexhepi; Adam Zerka; Mike Zerka
Thanks to the Sponsors
Tournament Level
Spring Scaffolding
The Baldwin Group
Platinum Level
AE Design Solutions
Skyline Access
USI
Gold Level
Tepedino & Companies CPA LLC
Extech
GCP
Kemper System
Lawless & Mangione
Roosevelt Road Specialty
Siplast
SkyTrac Access Group
The Willis Law Group
… and so many more!
The Golf Classic benefiting The Skyline Charitable Foundation is indeed a beacon of hope and a salute to the power of the industry to help the greater community. 🀰